scholarly journals Candida albicans—The Virulence Factors and Clinical Manifestations of Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Jasminka Talapko ◽  
Martina Juzbašić ◽  
Tatjana Matijević ◽  
Emina Pustijanac ◽  
Sanja Bekić ◽  
...  

Candida albicans is a common commensal fungus that colonizes the oropharyngeal cavity, gastrointestinal and vaginal tract, and healthy individuals’ skin. In 50% of the population, C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the microbiota. The various clinical manifestations of Candida species range from localized, superficial mucocutaneous disorders to invasive diseases that involve multiple organ systems and are life-threatening. From systemic and local to hereditary and environmental, diverse factors lead to disturbances in Candida’s normal homeostasis, resulting in a transition from normal flora to pathogenic and opportunistic infections. The transition in the pathophysiology of the onset and progression of infection is also influenced by Candida’s virulence traits that lead to the development of candidiasis. Oral candidiasis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, divided into primary and secondary candidiasis. The main supply of C. albicans in the body is located in the gastrointestinal tract, and the development of infections occurs due to dysbiosis of the residential microbiota, immune dysfunction, and damage to the muco-intestinal barrier. The presence of C. albicans in the blood is associated with candidemia–invasive Candida infections. The commensal relationship exists as long as there is a balance between the host immune system and the virulence factors of C. albicans. This paper presents the virulence traits of Candida albicans and clinical manifestations of specific candidiasis.

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S19-S28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Edberg

There are a number of relationships the host can establish with the microbes we ingest. For the vast majority of microbes, they have a short-lived liaison with the human host. Either they are destroyed by the stomach acid or bile, or can not establish even a temporary residency in the gastrointestinal tract. Early in life the mucosal surfaces of the body establishes a resident, and generally stable, normal flora. These normal flora microbes, the majority of which are bacteria, have specific receptors for specific areas of the alimentary tract. If the foreign microbe can establish residency, it then may transiently or permanently become part of the normal flora. However, in order to produce disease, it must possess an additional set of virulence factors. While some of these are known, many are not. Those that are known include enzymes, such as protease, lipase, and esterase. Accordingly, VFAR may not be associated with human disease and its presence or absence has no public health meaning.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdillah Imron Nasution

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus causing various forms of candidiasis. However, under certain circumstances it is capable of becoming pathogenic. Pathogenicity of oral candidiasis is a complex process and there is no one factor that can be regarded as the direct cause. This review aims to explain the virulence factors of Candida albicans in oral candidiasis infection and its relation to homeostasis in the mouth. Virulence factors of Candida albicans which is closely related to the nature of pathogens include: adherence and coaggregation, interference of immune system, phenotype switching and several supporting factors such as antibiotic resistance and immunomodulating. How to cite this article Nasution AI. Virulence Factor and Pathogenicity of Candida albicans in Oral Candidiasis. World J Dent 2013;4(4):267-271.


Author(s):  
Steven J. Gill ◽  
Michael H. Nathanson

Anaesthesia induces changes in many organ systems within the body, though clearly none more so than the central nervous system. The physiology of the normal central nervous system is complex and the addition of chronic pathology and polypharmacy creates a significant challenge for the anaesthetist. This chapter demonstrates a common approach for the anaesthetist and specific considerations for a wide range of neurological conditions. Detailed preoperative assessment is essential to gain understanding of the current symptomatology and neurological deficit, including at times restrictions on movement and position. Some conditions may pose challenges relating to communication, capacity, and consent. As part of the consent process, patients may worry that an anaesthetic may aggravate or worsen their neurological disease. There is little evidence to support this understandable concern; however, the risks and benefits must be considered on an individual patient basis. The conduct of anaesthesia may involve a preference for general or regional anaesthesia and requires careful consideration of the pharmacological and physiological impact on the patient and their disease. Interactions between regular medications and anaesthetic drugs are common. Chronically denervated muscle may induce hyperkalaemia after administration of succinylcholine. Other patients may have an altered response to non-depolarizing agents, such as those suffering from myasthenia gravis. The most common neurological condition encountered is epilepsy. This requires consideration of the patient’s antiepileptic drugs, often relating to hepatic enzyme induction or less commonly inhibition and competition for protein binding, and the effect of the anaesthetic technique and drugs on the patient’s seizure risk. Postoperative care may need to take place in a high dependency unit, especially in those with limited preoperative reserve or markers of frailty, and where the gastrointestinal tract has been compromised, alternative routes of drug delivery need to be considered. Overall, patients with chronic neurological conditions require careful assessment and preparation, a considered technique with attention to detail, and often higher levels of care during their immediate postoperative period.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
L.A. Dziak ◽  
O.S. Tsurkalenko ◽  
K.V. Chekha ◽  
V.M. Suk

Coronavirus infection is a systemic pathology resulting in impairment of the nervous system. The involvement of the central nervous system in COVID-19 is diverse by clinical manifestations and main mechanisms. The mechanisms of interrelations between SARS-CoV-2 and the nervous system include a direct virus-induced lesion of the central nervous system, inflammatory-mediated impairment, thrombus burden, and impairment caused by hypoxia and homeostasis. Due to the multi-factor mechanisms (viral, immune, hypoxic, hypercoagulation), the SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause a wide range of neurological disorders involving both the central and peripheral nervous system and end organs. Dizziness, headache, altered level of consciousness, acute cerebrovascular diseases, hypogeusia, hyposmia, peripheral neuropathies, sleep disorders, delirium, neuralgia, myalgia are the most common signs. The structural and functional changes in various organs and systems and many neurological symptoms are determined to persist after COVID-19. Regardless of the numerous clinical reports about the neurological and psychiatric symptoms of COVID-19 as before it is difficult to determine if they are associated with the direct or indirect impact of viral infection or they are secondary to hypoxia, sepsis, cytokine reaction, and multiple organ failure. Penetrated the brain, COVID-19 can impact the other organs and systems and the body in general. Given the mechanisms of impairment, the survivors after COVID-19 with the infection penetrated the brain are more susceptible to more serious diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, cognitive decline, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases. Given the multi-factor pathogenesis of COVID-19 resulting in long-term persistence of the clinical symptoms due to impaired neuroplasticity and neurogenesis followed by cholinergic deficiency, the usage of Neuroxon® 1000 mg a day with twice-day dosing for 30 days. Also, a long-term follow-up and control over the COVID-19 patients are recommended for the prophylaxis, timely determination, and correction of long-term complications.


Author(s):  
Oluwole Moses David ◽  
Margaret Olutayo Alese ◽  
Tobi Oyewole ◽  
Oluwole Ojo Alese ◽  
Adekunle Adegbuyi ◽  
...  

Background: Oral infection caused by Candida spp. is a major healthcare problem in dental and oral care. Treatment failure has been reported in cases of oral candidiasis as a result of resistance to common antifungals. Aim and Objective: In this study, the in vitro and in vivo activities of extract of Tithonia diversifolia against virulence factor-borne and antifungal resistant-Candida albicans were investigated. Candida albicans was isolated from the saliva of patients attending a tertiary hospital in Ekiti State. Methodology: Standard methods were used to determine the presence of virulence factors in the isolates. In vitro and in vivo anti-candidal activities of the hydro-ethanolic extract of T. diversifolia were also tested on the test fungus. Results: The virulence factors have varying percentage of occurrence in all the isolates with catalase having the highest. Itraconazole and nystatin were not effective against the isolates. Out of the six isolates selected (based on antifungal resistance) only three produced strong biofilm. The reduction in the population of the test organisms by the extract was time and concentration dependent. At the end of candidal challenge and treatment assays, extract of T. diversifolia has lower anti-candidal property compared to nystatin. Conclusion: This study has shown that C. albicans associated with the mouth carries virulence factors and are resistant to common antifungals. In this work, we noticed antifungal effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of T. diversifolia on C. albicans associated with oral infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baila Shakaib ◽  
Tanzeel Zohra ◽  
Aamer Ikram ◽  
Muhammad Bin Shakaib ◽  
Amna Ali ◽  
...  

AbstractSince its outbreak in 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a pandemic, affecting more than 52 million people and causing more than 1 million mortalities globally till date. Current research reveals a wide array of disease manifestations and behaviors encompassing multiple organ systems in body and immense systemic inflammation, which have been summarized in this review. Data from a number of scientific reviews, research articles, case series, observational studies, and case reports were retrieved by utilizing online search engines such as Cochrane, PubMed, and Scopus from December 2019 to November 2020. The data for prevalence of signs and symptoms, underlying disease mechanisms and comorbidities were analyzed using SPSS version 25. This review will discuss a wide range of COVID-19 clinical presentations recorded till date, and the current understanding of both the underlying general as well as system specific pathophysiologic, and pathogenetic pathways. These include direct viral penetration into host cells through ACE2 receptors, induction of inflammosomes and immune response through viral proteins, and the initiation of system-wide inflammation and cytokine production. Moreover, peripheral organ damage and underlying comorbid diseases which can lead to short term and long term, reversible and irreversible damage to the body have also been studied. We concluded that underlying comorbidities and their pathological effects on the body contributed immensely and determine the resultant disease severity and mortality of the patients. Presently there is no drug approved for treatment of COVID-19, however multiple vaccines are now in use and research for more is underway.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0241096
Author(s):  
Beatriz Barreto-Duarte ◽  
Fabiana H. Andrade-Gomes ◽  
María B. Arriaga ◽  
Mariana Araújo-Pereira ◽  
Juan Manuel Cubillos-Angulo ◽  
...  

Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects one in every 3000 individuals. This disease can present a wide range of clinical manifestations, ranging from skin abnormalities to severe vascular damage. Although not commonly recognized in the context of NF-1, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), can be often present since childhood and diagnosed just later in life. When present, NF-1-associated CVD clinical manifestations may include headache, cognitive deficits and ultimately aneurysm rupture, causing death. Thus, CVD plays an important role in the clinical manifestations, disease severity and prognosis of patients with NF-1. This systematic review aims to summarize the body of evidence linking NF-1 and CVD in children. Methods Two independent investigators performed a systematic review on the PubMed and EMBASE search platforms, using the following key terms: “neurofibromatosis type 1”, “Von Recklinghausen’s disease”, "children", "adolescents", "stroke", "Moyamoya disease", "vascular diseases", "cerebrovascular disorders", "aneurysm" and "congenital abnormalities". Studies focused on assessing the development of CVD in children with NF-1 were included. Results Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Twelve different clinical manifestations have been associated with cerebrovascular changes in children with NF-1; 44,5% of diagnosed patients were asymptomatic. Conclusion The available evidence suggests that CVDs are related with the progression of NF-1, even in the absence of a clear clinical manifestation. In addition, improved prognosis was observed when imaging tests were performed to screen for cerebrovascular alterations early during the clinical investigation. Early diagnosis of CVD in NF-1 patients foster implementation of timely interventions, directly impacting clinical outcomes.


2010 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 360-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Min Yuan ◽  
Hua Jing

Marfan's syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition with an estimated prevalence of one in 10,000 to 20,000 individuals. This rare hereditary connective tissue disorder affects many parts of the body. The diagnosis of Marfan's syndrome is established in accordance with a review of the diagnostic criteria, known as the Ghent nosology, through a comprehensive assessment largely based on a combination of major and minor clinical manifestations in various organ systems and the family history. Aortic root dilation and mitral valve prolapse are the main presentations among the cardiovascular malformations of Marfan's syndrome. The pathogenesis of Marfan's syndrome has not been fully elucidated. However, fibrillin-1 gene mutations are believed to exert a dominant negative effect. Therefore, Marfan's syndrome is termed a fibrillinopathy, along with other connective tissue disorders with subtle differences in clinical manifestations. The treatment may include prophylactic β-blockers and angiotensin II-receptor blockers in order to slow down the dilation of the ascending aorta, and prophylactic aortic surgery. Importantly, β-blocker therapy may reduce TGF-β activation, which has been recognized as a contributory factor in Marfan's syndrome. The present article aims to provide an overview of this rare hereditary disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taissa Vila ◽  
Ahmed S. Sultan ◽  
Daniel Montelongo-Jauregui ◽  
Mary Ann Jabra-Rizk

Oral candidiasis, commonly referred to as “thrush,” is an opportunistic fungal infection that commonly affects the oral mucosa. The main causative agent, Candida albicans, is a highly versatile commensal organism that is well adapted to its human host; however, changes in the host microenvironment can promote the transition from one of commensalism to pathogen. This transition is heavily reliant on an impressive repertoire of virulence factors, most notably cell surface adhesins, proteolytic enzymes, morphologic switching, and the development of drug resistance. In the oral cavity, the co-adhesion of C. albicans with bacteria is crucial for its persistence, and a wide range of synergistic interactions with various oral species were described to enhance colonization in the host. As a frequent colonizer of the oral mucosa, the host immune response in the oral cavity is oriented toward a more tolerogenic state and, therefore, local innate immune defenses play a central role in maintaining Candida in its commensal state. Specifically, in addition to preventing Candida adherence to epithelial cells, saliva is enriched with anti-candidal peptides, considered to be part of the host innate immunity. The T helper 17 (Th17)-type adaptive immune response is mainly involved in mucosal host defenses, controlling initial growth of Candida and inhibiting subsequent tissue invasion. Animal models, most notably the mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis and the rat model of denture stomatitis, are instrumental in our understanding of Candida virulence factors and the factors leading to host susceptibility to infections. Given the continuing rise in development of resistance to the limited number of traditional antifungal agents, novel therapeutic strategies are directed toward identifying bioactive compounds that target pathogenic mechanisms to prevent C. albicans transition from harmless commensal to pathogen.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 110-121
Author(s):  
M. O. Pyatchenkov ◽  
O. A. Vorobyeva ◽  
A. N. Belskykh ◽  
M. V. Zakharov ◽  
M. Y. Dendrikova

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) currently is considered as a chronic fibroinflammatory immune-mediated multisystemic condition of unidentified etiology, which can imitate a wide range of malignant, infectious, rheumatologic, and other diseases. It can affect almost any organ system in the body synchronously or sequentially, but the most often affected are the pancreas, hepatobiliary tract, periorbital structures, salivary glands, kidneys, and lymph nodes. The most frequent renal manifestations of IgG4-RD is IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis. Membranous nephropathy is the most common glomerular disease accompanied by IgG4-RD. Regardless of the organ localization, patients with IgG4-RD are characterized by elevated serum IgG4, but this laboratory abnormality is not specific and can be changed in other diseases. In all suspected cases of IgG4-RD the diagnosis should be confirmed by histological examination. Characteristic pathologic features include diffuse or focal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with prominent IgG4+ plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. Patients with IgG4- RD usually have an excellent clinical response to glucocorticoids, but relapse rates after steroid withdrawal are high, which may require additional use of immunosuppressants or rituximab. Due to the low prevalence and multitude of clinical manifestations the disease often remains underdiagnosed on time. This case report describes middle-aged patients with a history of chronic recurrent pancreatitis complicated by the nephrotic syndrome. Kidney biopsy showed membranous nephropathy and diagnosis IgG4-RD with multiorgan involvement was made. Partial remission was achieved on corticosteroid therapy. The presented case clearly demonstrates the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-RD. IgG4-related membranous nephropathy should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with nephrotic syndrome accompanied by multiorgan dysfunction.


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