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Lack of Candida africana and Candida dubliniensis in Vaginal Candida albicans Isolates in Turkey Using HWP1 Gene Polymorphisms

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Abstract

Candida africana differs from the common strains of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis morphologically, physiologically, genetically, and, in particular, clinically. This fungal pathogen is primarily recovered from genital specimens, especially in vaginal specimens. In this investigation, we reexamined 195 vaginal C. albicans isolates for the presence of C. africana and C. dubliniensis by using hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1) gene polymorphisms. All study isolates were confirmed to be C. albicans, and none were verified as either C. africana or C. dubliniensis. In conclusion, the HWP1 gene polymorphisms offer a useful tool in the discrimination of C. africana, C. albicans, and C. dubliniensis. Further studies may highlight the pathogenesis and importance of this yeast in vulvovaginal candidiasis.

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Acknowledgments

We offer our sincere thanks to the physicians of Çukurova Maternity and Children’s Hospital for their efforts in the provision of clinical samples. We also thank Aygul Turaç-Biçer and Tuba Yuksel for their kind assistance in the laboratory workup.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Ramazan Gumral & Mehmet Ali Saraçlı

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey

    Banu Sancak

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey

    Ahmet Barış Guzel

  4. Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, 01330, Adana, Turkey

    Macit Ilkit

Authors
  1. Ramazan Gumral
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  2. Banu Sancak
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  3. Ahmet Barış Guzel
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  4. Mehmet Ali Saraçlı
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  5. Macit Ilkit
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Macit Ilkit.

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Gumral, R., Sancak, B., Guzel, A.B. et al. Lack of Candida africana and Candida dubliniensis in Vaginal Candida albicans Isolates in Turkey Using HWP1 Gene Polymorphisms. Mycopathologia 172, 73–76 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9401-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9401-2

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