Staniszewska Monika, Bondaryk Małgorzata, Piłat Joanna, Siennicka Katarzyna, Magda Urszula, Kurzatkowski Wiesław
Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego, Państwowy Zakład Higieny.
Przegl Epidemiol. 2012;66(4):629-33.
Candida albicans is the most common etiological factor of opportunistic human fungal infections. In this review, we focus on the major virulence factors that mediate the pathogenesis of C. albicans. Among these virulence factors, secreted aspartyl proteases, adherence, pleomorphism are the most important features of C. albicans infections. Ability to exist as different pleomorphic forms is defined as pleomorphism. A number of quorum sensing (QS) molecules have been described which affect morphogenesis process in C. albicans. Furthermore, the morphological transition of C. albicans in response to changing environmental conditions represent a means by which the strain adapts to different biological niches. Furthermore, every morphotype has own virulence profile and each pleomorphic form provide critical functions required for pathogenesis. Candida albicans is a producer of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Among them lipases, phospholipases and secreted aspartyl proteinases (Sap) are most significant in virulence. Sap proteins contribute to pathogenesis by digestion of host cell membranes and molecules of the host immune system to avoid antimicrobial attack by the host. One of the key features in the development of candidiasis is adhesion ofC. albicans to buccal and vaginal epithelial cells. The adhesion to host cells represents the first step in the internalization process which involves adhesins. Knowledge of the role of the various C. albicans' virulence factors during in vivo infections is still incomplete, therefore further studies including quantification of genes expression and histopathological examination of tissues damage are required to fully understand pathogenesis of this opportunistic pathogen.
白色念珠菌是人类机会性真菌感染最常见的病因。在本综述中，我们聚焦于介导白色念珠菌发病机制的主要毒力因子。在这些毒力因子中，分泌天冬氨酸蛋白酶、黏附、多态性是白色念珠菌感染的最重要特征。以不同多态形式存在的能力被定义为多态性。已经描述了许多群体感应（QS）分子，它们影响白色念珠菌的形态发生过程。此外，白色念珠菌响应环境条件变化的形态转变是该菌株适应不同生物微环境的一种方式。此外，每种形态型都有自己的毒力特征，每种多态形式都提供发病机制所需的关键功能。白色念珠菌是细胞外水解酶的产生者。其中脂肪酶、磷脂酶和分泌天冬氨酸蛋白酶（Sap）在毒力方面最为重要。Sap蛋白通过消化宿主细胞膜和宿主免疫系统分子来促进发病机制，以避免宿主的抗菌攻击。念珠菌病发展的关键特征之一是白色念珠菌与颊黏膜和阴道上皮细胞的黏附。与宿主细胞的黏附是内化过程的第一步，这涉及黏附素。关于白色念珠菌各种毒力因子在体内感染过程中的作用的认识仍然不完整，因此需要进一步的研究，包括基因表达定量和组织损伤的组织病理学检查，以充分了解这种机会性病原体的发病机制。
