Abstract :
Background: Mycoses has tremendously raised in the recent years, causing a wide range of infections in patients. Mycoses has occupied an important place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Candida species is one of the major pathogens known to mankind which is quite usually not reported. One of the most important hydrolytic enzymes which is responsible for its pathogenicity is Secreted Aspartic Protease enzyme which degrades many human proteins such as albumin, hemoglobin, keratin and secretory Immunoglobin A.
Aim: The aim of the study is to detect the presence of Secreted Aspartic Proteases (SAP) enzyme in the clinical isolates of Candida species.
Objectives: To isolate Candida species from clinical specimens. Phenotypic identification of Candida species. Detection of SAP enzyme by Modified Staib’s Method. Clinical characterization based on the SAP enzyme production
Materials and Methods: Detecting the intensity of enzyme production by the organism helps in finding out the level of virulence exhibited which helps in clinically treating the patients with appropriate antifungal drugs designed to inhibit the enzyme. The detection of the Secreted Aspartic Protease enzyme was done by Modified Staib method using bovine serum albumin agar.
Result: Current study observed that 72 isolates of Candida species were cultured from various samples collected from the hospital setting and further testing was done to differentiate the species and to estimate their level of SAP enzyme production, out of which, 53 isolates (74%) were found to produce the enzyme in varied intensity levels,
Conclusion: The data of findings evolved from this study helps us to conclude that Secreted Aspartic Proteinase is one of the major virulence attributes of Candida species.
Keyword :
Mycoses, Secreted Aspartic Protease enzyme, Modified Staib Method, Proteolysis