Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of species from the oral cavity of healthy individuals in Lublin province, Poland.

BACKGROUND

spp., particularly , are commonly isolated fungi in the oral cavity. However, their prevalence in healthy participants and their genotype-phenotype relation remains elusive.

AIM

This study aimed to update the information on species colonizing the oral cavity of healthy population, identify the most common species, and characterize the intraspecific diversity to determine the genotype-phenotype relationship.

METHODS

Oral swabs of healthy participants who declared an absence of oral infection were analyzed. Microbiological methods: chromogenic media, sugar assimilation tests, drug susceptibility, filamentation tests, temperature tolerance analysis, and assessment of biofilm formation ability. Genotyping methods: PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with MspI restriction enzyme digestion and 25S rDNA region.

RESULTS

Of the 500 individuals tested, 130 harbored in 77%, in 12%, (previously ) in 8%, and (previously ) in 3%. The microbiological tests yielded conflicting results. Analysis of the 25S rDNA transposable intron region contributed to the identification of individual spp. and intraspecific identification of genotypes. Genotype A accounted for 70% ( = 100) of C. albicans isolates, whereas genotypes B, C, and D () accounted for 17%, 9%, and 4% of the isolates, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate a complex genotype-phenotype relationship in spp. and recommends combining microbiological and molecular methods for the efficient typing of spp.