Innate pathogenic traits in oral yeasts

Abstract

The normal flora community plays a significant role in both healthy and patient individual’s bodies. It has improved its ability to change from beneficial to opportunistic organisms causing crucial infections in immunocompromised patients. This study was conducted to identify the community of yeast species, and to investigate potential virulence factors. Saliva samples were collected from healthy individuals, yeast species were isolated and identified using both traditional and advance molecular genetics technique. The results revealed that Candida albicanswas the dominant isolate, while Meyerozyma caribbicawas the least. The phylogenetic tree was constructed for 13 species using the Neighbour-Joining method, which revealed six separated clades. The significant virulence factors, biofilm formation, phospholipase and proteinase activities, were accomplished. The results showed that 95.8% of the isolates formed a biofilm, about 82.6% of them were shown strong biofilm activity. The enzymatic activity revealed that 56.25% of the tested isolates were positive for phospholipase, while 43.75% were positive for proteinase activity. The results showed that C. albicansand non-albicanswere organisms that coexist in the oral cavity, however they possess virulence factors. C. albicanswas the most popular species, while C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis, P. kudriavzevii, P. kluyveri, K. marxianus, M. guilliermondiiand M. caribbica were showed smaller percentages respectively.