Exoenzyme activities of Candida albicans in HIV-infecetd patients on HAART

Abstract

Although the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy has reduced the morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients, its effect on Candida infection is still poorly understood. Objectives: To determine the phospholipase, proteinase and haemolytic activities of oral Candida albicans isolated from Chinese patients on HAART, and to investigate the correlations between the enzyme profiles of C. albicans isolates and patients' demographic and clinical parameters. Methods: Sixteen C. albicans isolates were obtained from HIV-infected indivuduals on HAART and controls, using the oral rinse technique. The isolates were tested for in vitro phospholipase, proteinase and haemolytic activities using three different plate assays. Results: No significant different in phospholipase activities was found between the test group and the control. Lower proteinase activities were found in the test group (P < 0.001) while higher haemolytic activities were found in the test group (P < 0.001). No correlations could be found between the exoenzyme activities with the patients' demographic and clinical parameters. Conclusion: These data provide evidence of altered extracellular enzyme activities in Candida isolates taken from HIV patients on HAART. The lower proteinase activities in HIV-infected group could be the direct effect of protease inhibitors in HAART while the higher haemolytic activity in the HIV-infected group remained elusive.