# Evaluation of exoenzyme profiles of Candida albicans species isolated from females with vaginal candidiasis

## TL;DR

This study examines enzyme production in Candida albicans from women with vaginal candidiasis to understand how these enzymes relate to disease severity.

## Contribution

The study identifies the prevalence of phospholipase, esterase, and hemolysin activities in C. albicans isolates and links them to pathogenicity.

## Key findings

- 92.44% of isolates showed phospholipase activity, 78.2% were esterase producers, and 75.6% had hemolytic activity.
- Variation in exoenzyme production among isolates may correlate with disease severity and pathogenicity.
- Most isolates exhibited distinct enzymatic patterns, suggesting differences in virulence potential.

## Abstract

The three most common causes of vaginitis are bacteria, yeast, and Protozoa. Candida albicans is one of the most common causes of vaginitis and commonly
affects millions of females with different signs and symptoms. Secretion of exoenzymes from Candida species plays an important role in virulence and pathogenesis.
Increasing our knowledge about the pathogenesis of candidiasis could help to design new anti-Candida drugs.
This study aimed to evaluate the phospholipase, esterase, and hemolysin activities of the vaginal Candida isolates and their correlation with the presence of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

In total, 119 Candida albicans isolates from vaginal candidiasis were enrolled in the study. Egg yolk agar, Tween 80 opacity medium, and blood agar plate assays were used for the determination of phospholipase, esterase, and hemolytic activities, respectively.

Based on the findings, 110 (92.44%) isolates showed phospholipase activity, 93 (78.2%) isolates were esterase producers, and 90 (75.6%) species had hemolytic activity.

This study showed that most of the tested isolates had different enzymatic patterns. Discrimination of variations in the production of these exoenzymes
among different Candida isolates may depend on Candida spp. pathogenicity and could be responsible for the severity of symptoms among the patients.