老年人口腔白色念珠菌的分布与基因分型研究

目的研究健康老年人口腔白色念珠菌的分布、基因型特点及基因型特点与白色念珠菌分布的相关性。方法来自成都地区212例老年人分为4组：A1（男性，有义齿）；A2（男性，无义齿）；B1（女性，有义齿）和B2（女性，无义齿）。CHROMagar Candida^TM鉴定培养基、碳水化合物同化反应鉴定体系（API 20C AUX）和随机扩增片段多态性分析（randomly amplified polymorphic DNA assays，RAPD）鉴定白色念珠菌。RAPD分析健康老年人口腔白色念珠菌分离株的基因型特征。统计学分析比较不同分组健康老年人口腔白色念珠菌基因型之间的差异。结果212例受检个体中检出89株白色念珠菌（42％），A1、A2、B1、B2白色念珠菌检出率分别为56．2％、21．3％、56．6％、38％。A1组与A2组白色念珠菌检出率差异有统计学意义，P〈0．01。以JWFP和NA为随机引物的RAPD分析将白色念珠菌分为5型。RAPD分析基因型构成在A1组与A2组之间比较差异有统计学意义，P〈0．05，A1组主要以A型为主。结论健康老年人口腔白色念珠菌的检出率与义齿修复相关。义齿修复可能促进具有特定基因型特点的白色念珠菌检出率增高。     

口腔感染白色念珠菌的基因分型及药敏分析

目的 研究口腔黏膜念珠菌病患者白色念珠菌的基因分型及药敏试验分析.方法 采用聚合酶链反应（PCR）对78株口腔白色念珠菌基因分型,用纸片扩散（K-B）法进行药敏试验,测定白色念珠菌不同基因型对两种临床常用抗真菌药物的敏感性,采用SPSS16.0软件包对数据进行统计分析.结果 口腔念珠菌病患者唾液中分离的白色念珠菌A型占57.7％,B型占26.9％,C型占15.4％.药敏试验结果为：78株白色念珠菌对氟康唑敏感的占89.7％,对伏立康唑敏感的占98.7％,对伏立康唑敏感率高于氟康唑（P＜0.05）.结论 引起口腔黏膜念珠菌病的白色念珠菌基因呈多态性,且不同基因型对抗真菌药物的敏感性存在较大差异,基因分型对口腔念珠菌病的诊断及合理用药有重要意义.     

用PCR SSCP方法检测念珠菌和隐球菌的实验研究

ng of Cryptococcus and Candida with PCRSSCP念球菌属,隐球菌属,聚合酶链反应,单链构象多态性,核糖体Candida,Cryptococcus r R N A Polymerade chain reactionR446.62目的　根据医学真菌大亚单位核糖体（ｌｓｕ ｒ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ） 基因的高度保守区设计广谱扩增引物，建立应用 Ｐ Ｃ Ｒ Ｓ Ｓ Ｃ Ｐ 技术检测医学重要真菌的方法，并应用于临床。方法　首先用 Ｐ Ｃ Ｒ 技术扩增白色念珠菌、热带念珠菌、假热带念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌、光滑念珠菌、解脂念珠菌、新型隐球菌的ｌｓｕｒ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ 基因，然后根据７ 种标准菌株 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 的单链构象多态性特征将上述医学真菌鉴定到菌种；观察引物对常见细菌和哺乳动物细胞 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 的扩增结果； 于生理盐水和血液中加入念珠菌，观察方法的灵敏度；对扩增产物进行序列分析；方法建立后用于临床标本的检测。结果　不同真菌菌种的 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 具有可以区分的单链构象多态性，扩增片段长度为２１９ ～２８５ｂｐ ，可将白色念珠菌、热带念珠菌和新型隐球菌等医学重要真菌鉴定到菌种；此引物对大肠埃希氏菌、铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌等１２ 种常见细菌和病毒 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 扩增均为阴性结果， 人血液白细胞、 Ｈｅ Ｌａ 细胞、 Ｋ Ｂ 细胞、 Ｓ１８０ 细胞和３ Ｔ３ 细胞亦无阳性 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 带出现。于生理盐水和血液中加入白色念珠菌，检测灵敏度分别为５ 个和１０ 个真菌细胞。 Ｐ Ｃ Ｒ 产物的序列分析结果表明，白色念珠菌和新     

桔梗皂苷D防御口腔黏膜上皮细胞感染白色念珠菌的作用

目的:探讨桔梗皂苷D对白色念珠菌黏附口腔黏膜上皮细胞的影响。方法:MTT法检测不同桔梗皂苷D对口腔上皮KB细胞存活率的影响;将白色念珠菌、KB细胞以及不同浓度的桔梗皂苷D共同培养,革兰染色检测白色念珠菌黏附数,台盼蓝排斥实验检测念珠菌活力和菌丝转换率;ELISA法检测上清液中IL-18与人β-防御素2(HBD-2)的蛋白含量;实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot法分别检测KB细胞中HBD-2 mRNA与蛋白表达的变化。结果:桔梗皂苷D对KB细胞存活率无影响;随着桔梗皂苷D浓度的增加,白色念珠菌的黏附数、菌活力和菌丝转换率逐渐下降,上清液中IL-18与HBD-2的蛋白含量以及KB细胞中HBD-2 mRNA表达与蛋白水平逐渐降低。结论:桔梗皂苷D具有抑菌作用,并参与了口腔黏膜上皮细胞防御白色念珠菌感染的免疫反应。     

VDR和GSDMB基因多态性与湖北地区儿童哮喘的易感性研究

目的:探讨湖北地区儿童VDR基因(rs2239185、rs7975232、rs2525046、rs2228570)和GSDMB基因(rs2305480)单核苷酸多态性(SNP)与儿童哮喘的易感性。方法:采用前瞻性研究方法,纳入158例哮喘患儿(哮喘组)和156例健康儿童(对照组),运用Sequenom MassArray质谱芯片微列阵技术对两组对象VDR和GSDMB基因的多个SNP位点进行基因分型,分析上述各位点在两组间分布的差异,筛选湖北地区儿童哮喘易感SNP位点。结果:GSDMB基因rs2305480位点GG、AG、AA 3种基因型频率在哮喘组中分别为64.56%、4.43%、31.01%,在对照组中分别为51.28%、8.97%、39.74%,两组间GG基因型分布频率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);GSDMB基因rs2305480位点的等位基因G、A在哮喘组中的分布频率分别为80.06%、19.94%,在对照组中的分布频率分别为71.15%、28.85%,两组间的等位基因A分布频率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);GSDMB基因rs2305480位点不同基因分布...     

白色念珠菌诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的基因调控

目的　探讨白色念珠菌诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡过程中的基因调控作用。方法　经小鼠尾静脉注射白色念珠菌后 ,采用FCM技术测定胸腺凋亡细胞上 5个凋亡相关基因 ( p5 3,bax ,bcl 2 ,fas和c myc)产物的水平在不同时间组的变化。结果　p5 3和bax两个基因产物的水平明显增加 ;而bcl 2 ,fas和c myc基因产物的水平无明显改变。 结论　白色念珠菌诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡 ,可能是经由基因调控的转录途径机制而发生 ,p5 3和bax基因在此过程起重要作用     

白色念珠菌诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡通路的探究

目的：探讨白色念珠菌诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的通路。方法：经小鼠尾静脉注射白色念珠菌后，用ELISA检测小鼠血清TNF-α水平；采用荧光分光光度计检测小鼠胸腺凋亡细胞caspase-3在不同时问组的活性变化；流式细胞仪检测小鼠胸腺细胞hax、p53、bcl-2基因产物水平。结果：TNF-α水平显著升高，caspase-3的活性明显增强，bax、p53基因表达上调。结论：白色念珠菌可能通过刺激机体TNF-α水平升高进而激活caspase-3，同时白色念珠菌上调bax、p53基因表达协同激活caspase-3，从而导致小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡。     

芍药苷对白色念珠菌生物膜的作用

背景：研究证实中药赤芍有效成分对白色念珠菌有较好的抑制作用,但其单体芍药苷对白色念珠菌生物膜是否有抑制作用未见报道。  目的：观察芍药苷对体外白色念珠菌生物膜的影响。 方法：用RPMI-1640分别按2倍稀释法制备5个浓度梯度(4,2,1,0.5,0.25 g/L)的芍药苷溶液。用RPMI-1640稀释洗必泰为5个浓度梯度(2%,1%,0.5%,0.25%,0.125%)。采用琼脂扩散法检测不同浓度梯度芍药苷或洗必泰对白色念珠菌的抑菌直径。MTT法检测不同浓度洗必泰或芍药苷对白色念珠菌细胞黏附的作用,以及对白色念珠菌生物膜的抑制作用,并且利用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜和死菌活菌荧光染色技术相结合方法观察常态及药物作用下的白色念珠菌生物膜。 结果与结论：洗必泰与芍药苷均有抑菌能力,抑菌环直径与药物浓度呈正相关;除2 g/L芍药苷组与1%,2%洗必泰组抑菌环直径无差异外,其余组间两两比较差异均有显著性意义。不同质量浓度芍药苷对白色念珠菌的细胞黏附都具有抑制作用,对白色念珠菌生物膜也具有抑制作用,且抑制率与药物质量浓度呈正相关。观察48 h时常态生物膜结构中大部分是活菌,有少量死菌存在;随芍药苷质量浓度改变白色念珠菌生物膜中死菌比例不断增高,其抑菌活性相对弱于洗必泰。表明芍药苷对体外白色念珠菌生物膜有较明显的抑制作用。|中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

中国新疆地区汉族、 维族健康儿童 SCN5A 基因单核苷酸多态性及其与先天性心脏病的关系简

目的主要对钠离子通道基因SCN5A基因A29A和D1819D多态性与中国新疆地区汉族、哈萨克族、维吾尔族先天性心脏病简称先心病发病的相关性进行分析。方法健康儿童健康组350例维吾尔族145例,汉族110例,哈萨克族95例．先心病儿童先心病组350例维吾尔族145例,汉族110例,哈萨克族95例．进行聚合酶链反应扩增SCN5A基因所有外显子序列．对其产物进行核酸序列检测．对检测到的位点进行统计学分析。结果新疆地区儿童中发现9个单核苷酸多态位点SNPs,通过对多态位点A29A和D1819D进行统计分析,汉族、哈萨克族、维吾尔族健康儿童中A29A和D1819D的基因型频率和等位基因频率差异有统计学意义P〈0．05．汉族、哈萨克族基因型频率和等位基因频率差异无统计学意义P〉0．05。A29A和D1819D的等位基因频率和基因型频率在汉族、维吾尔族先心病组和健康组中分布均有统计学意义P〈0．05,A29A等位基因频率和基因型频率在哈萨克族先心病组和健康组中分布均无统计学意义P〉0．05,D1819D基因型频率也无统计学意义P〉0．05,但等位基因频率有统计学意义P〈0．05。结论SCN5A基因A29A、D1819D位点在新疆汉、维吾尔族先心病人群中存在多态性,D1819D可能在哈萨克族先心病人群中存在多态性．SCN5A基因可能是新疆地区先心病发病的易感基因。     

中国新疆地区汉族、维族健康儿童SCN5A基因单核苷酸多态性及其与先天性心脏病的关系

目的主要对钠离子通道基因(SCN5A基因)A29A和D1819D多态性与中国新疆地区汉族、哈萨克族、维吾尔族先天性心脏病(简称先心病)发病的相关性进行分析。方法健康儿童(健康组)350例(维吾尔族145例,汉族110例,哈萨克族95例),先心病儿童(先心病组)350例(维吾尔族145例,汉族110例,哈萨克族95例),进行聚合酶链反应扩增SCN5A基因所有外显子序列,对其产物进行核酸序列检测,对检测到的位点进行统计学分析。结果新疆地区儿童中发现9个单核苷酸多态位点(SNPs),通过对多态位点A29A和D1819D进行统计分析,汉族、哈萨克族、维吾尔族健康儿童中A29A和D1819D的基因型频率和等位基因频率差异有统计学意义(P0.05),汉族、哈萨克族基因型频率和等位基因频率差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。A29A和D1819D的等位基因频率和基因型频率在汉族、维吾尔族先心病组和健康组中分布均有统计学意义(P0.05),A29A等位基因频率和基因型频率在哈萨克族先心病组和健康组中分布均无统计学意义(P0.05),D1819D基因型频率也无统计学意义(P0.05),但等位基因频率有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 SCN5A基因A29A、D1819D位点在新疆汉、维吾尔族先心病人群中存在多态性,D1819D可能在哈萨克族先心病人群中存在多态性,SCN5A基因可能是新疆地区先心病发病的易感基因。     

Candida in biological human samples

Infections by Candida have been raising in the last decades, and risk factors, mainly immunosuppression and the appearance of Candida no albicans, are determinants in the prognosis of these mycoses. The purpose of this investigation was to identify and establish the prevalence of C. albicans and Candida spp. in candidiases, in patients to the Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, whose biological samples were processed for both direct examination and cultures, needed for the proper identification. From October 1996 to October 1998, isolation and identification of yeasts of Candida were performed in 177 biological samples: 73 (41.24%) Candida albicans and 104 (58.75%) Candida spp. Both blastoconidias and pseudohyphae were found in 34 samples (19.21%), 24 of which (70.5%) were diagnosed as C. albicans and 10 (29.5%), as Candida spp. Blastoconidias identified by direct method were distributed as C. albicans 34.2% and Candida spp. 65.7%. C. albicans was found more often in intertrigo, sputum and in bronquial lavage samples. Candida spp. was more frequent in nails. Candidiasis is a frequently diagnosed mycosis in hospitals, mainly among immunossuppresed patients. It is very important to use direct microscopical evaluation and cultures, in order to establish the presence of blastoconidias and pseudohyphae, that will help to diagnose the aethiology and prevalence of candidiasis. It is also important to recognize subungueal candidiasis in hospital staff, that could spread the infection to inpatients.     

Racial distribution of Candida dubliniensis colonization among South Africans

Candida dubliniensis is a yeast species that has only recently been differentiated from Candida albicans. C. dubliniensis colonization was initially associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. Because of the large proportion of AIDS patients in South Africa, we tested the generality of this association by assessing the prevalence of C. dubliniensis colonization among 253 black HIV-positive individuals, 66 healthy black individuals, 22 white HIV-positive individuals, and 55 healthy white individuals in South Africa carrying germ tube-positive yeasts in their oral cavities. Molecular fingerprinting with Ca3, a complex DNA fingerprinting probe specific for C. albicans, and Cd25, a complex DNA fingerprinting probe specific for C. dubliniensis, provides the first conclusive evidence of the existence of C. dubliniensis among South African clinical yeast isolates and reveals a higher relative prevalence of this species among white healthy individuals (16%) than among HIV-positive white individuals (9%), black healthy individuals (0%), and black HIV-positive individuals (1.5%). A cluster analysis separated South African C. dubliniensis isolates into two previously described groups, groups I and II, with the majority of isolates clustering in group I. Isolates from white healthy individuals exhibited a higher level of relatedness. A comparison of the C. dubliniensis isolates from South Africa with a general collection of C. dubliniensis isolates collected worldwide revealed no South Africa-specific clade, as has been demonstrated for C. albicans. These results suggest that in South Africa, C. dubliniensis carriage is influenced more by race than by HIV infection status.     

Oral colonization, phenotypic, and genotypic profiles of Candida species in irradiated, dentate, xerostomic nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors

The aim of this study was to investigate oral yeast colonization and oral yeast strain diversity in irradiated (head and neck), dentate, xerostomic individuals. Subjects were recruited from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma clinic and were segregated into group A (age, <60 years [n = 25; average age +/- standard deviation (SD), 48 +/- 6 years; average postirradiation time +/- SD, 5 +/- 5 years]) and group B (age, >/=60 years [n = 8; average age +/- SD, 67 +/- 4 years; average postirradiation time +/- SD, 2 +/- 2 years]) and were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy individuals in group C (age, <60 years [n = 20; average age +/- SD, 44 +/- 12 years] and group D (age, >/=60 years [n = 10; average age, 70 +/- 3 years]). Selective culture of oral rinse samples was carried out to isolate, quantify, and speciate yeast recovery. All test subjects underwent a 3-month comprehensive oral and preventive care regimen plus topical antifungal therapy, if indicated. A total of 12 subjects from group A and 5 subjects from group B were recalled for reassessment of yeast colonization. Sequential (pre- and posttherapy) Candida isolate pairs from patients were phenotypically (all isolate pairs; biotyping and resistotyping profiles) and genotypically (Candida albicans isolate pairs only; electrophoretic karyotyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP], and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA [RAPD] assays) evaluated. All isolates were Candida species. Irradiated individuals were found to have a significantly increased yeast carriage compared with the controls. The isolation rate of Candida posttherapy remained unchanged. A total of 9 of the 12 subjects in group A and 3 of the 5 subjects in group B harbored the same C. albicans or Candida tropicalis phenotype at recall. Varying degrees of congruence in the molecular profiles were observed when these sequential isolate pairs of C. albicans were analyzed by RFLP and RAPD assays. Variations in the genotype were complementary to those in the phenotypic characteristics for some isolates. In conclusion, irradiation-induced xerostomia seems to favor intraoral colonization of Candida species, particularly C. albicans, which appeared to undergo temporal modifications in clonal profiles both phenotypically and genotypically following hygienic and preventive oral care which included topical antifungal therapy, if indicated. We postulate that the observed ability of Candida species to undergo genetic and phenotypic adaptation could strategically enhance its survival in the human oral cavity, particularly when salivary defenses are impaired.     

Genotypic profiles and virulence attributes of Candida albicans isolates from patients with oral lichen planus

Candida albicans carriage has been found to be increased in patients with oral lichen planus. In the present work we have investigated the genotypic profiles of 112 C. albicans strains isolated from patients with erosive or nonerosive OLP, and from healthy controls. The virulence attributes of the isolated strains were compared to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms through which C. albicans may cause OLP. We have characterized the genotypic profiles of these isolated strains using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA assay. In addition, we used assays to measure adhesion to buccal epithelial cells and phospholipase activity to evaluate the virulence attributes of these isolates. Our RAPD analyses revealed four different genotypes, named type A to D, among all isolates, and identified statistically significant associations with disease conditions. Specifically, type A (58.1%) and C (29.0%) were primarily found in erosive OLP, while type A (33.3%) and D (58.3%) were identified in nonerosive OLP. However, the healthy group seemed to have type B (38.5%) and D (61.5%). Using adhesion to BEC assay, we demonstrated that the isolates with genotype A had the strongest adherence among the four genotypes (P=0.000<0.05). The phospholipase activity of the isolates with genotype A and C was higher than for those with genotype B and D (P=0.000<0.05). In conclusion, some C. albicans isolates with special genotypic profiles and virulence attributes may contribute to the pathogenesis of OLP.     

Enrichment of Multilocus Sequence Typing Clade 1 with Oral Candida albicans Isolates in Patients with Untreated Periodontitis

This study investigated the prevalence and cell density of Candida species in periodontal pockets, healthy subgingival sites, and oral rinse samples of patients with untreated periodontitis. Twenty-one periodontitis patients underwent sampling at two periodontitis sites, and 19/21 of these patients underwent sampling at one periodontally healthy site. Both paper point and curette sampling techniques were employed. The periodontitis patients and 50 healthy subjects were also sampled by oral rinse. Candida isolates were recovered on CHROMagar Candida medium, and representative isolates were identified. Candida spp. were recovered from 10/21 (46.7%) periodontitis patients and from 16/50 (32%) healthy subjects. C. albicans predominated in both groups and was recovered from all Candida-positive subjects. Candida-positive periodontitis patients yielded Candida from periodontal pockets with average densities of 3,528 and 3,910 CFU/sample from curette and paper point samples, respectively, and 1,536 CFU/ml from oral rinse samples. The majority (18/19) of the healthy sites sampled from periodontitis patients were Candida negative. The 16 Candida-positive healthy subjects yielded an average of 279 CFU/ml from oral rinse samples. C. albicans isolates were investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to determine if specific clonal groups were associated with periodontitis. MLST analysis of 31 C. albicans isolates from periodontitis patients yielded 19 sequence types (STs), 13 of which were novel. Eleven STs belonged to MLST clade 1. In contrast, 16 C. albicans isolates from separate healthy subjects belonged to 16 STs, with 4 isolates belonging to clade 1. The distributions of STs between both groups were significantly different (P = 0.04) and indicated an enrichment of C. albicans isolates in periodontal pockets, which warrants a larger study.     

PCR Fingerprinting of Candida albicans Associated with Chronic Hyperplastic Candidosis and Other Oral Conditions

The purpose of this study was to genotype strains of Candida albicans to determine whether specific types were associated with chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC). A total of 67 candidal isolates from CHC patients (n = 17) and from patients with other oral conditions (n = 21) were genotyped by PCR fingerprinting employing two interrepeat primer combinations (1245 and 1246 primers or 1251 primer) and a single minisatellite-specific M13 primer. The most suitable primer for fingerprint analysis was found to be primer 1251, yielding well-resolved banding patterns. For the 67 isolates tested, PCR fingerprinting delineated 25 (1245 and 1246 primers), 27 (1251 primer), and 25 (M13 primer) profiles. The majority of C. albicans isolates from multiple sites within the mouth produced identical profiles (six out of nine subjects examined). For patients for whom a series of longitudinal isolates was available, strain persistence for up to 7 years was evident for five out of eight individuals, despite episodes of antifungal therapy. Computer-assisted comparison of the interrepeat PCR fingerprints identified seven distinct profiles that were shared among isolates from different individuals. However, no association was evident among isolates of C. albicans from specific clinical conditions. Eight isolates that were initially identified as C. albicans but having atypical PCR profiles were later confirmed as Candida dubliniensis. In conclusion, the genotypic data do not indicate clonal restriction of C. albicans with respect to CHC. Furthermore, these results have demonstrated that in the majority of individuals, colonizing populations of C. albicans are clonal in nature and exhibit strain persistence.     

Invasive candidosis in pediatric patients

Objective: To analyze invasive Candida infections in pediatric patients and to examine the outcome of disease.
Method: An observational prospective study was carried out of microbiologically documented cases of invasive candidosis in neonates, infants and children at Hippokration Hospital from December 1993 to July 1995.
Results: Thirty-nine cases of invasive candidosis (mainly candidemia and candiduria) occurred in 38 patients aged 3 days to 14 years, 21 (54%) having occurred in patients aged <1 month. The incidence was 10.1/1000 admissions in the two neonatal departments versus 1.1/1000 for all other pediatric departments, including oncology ( p <0.01). The most frequent causes of hospitalization were premature birth or perinatal problems and surgery. Thirty-five strains of Candida albicans , 10 of C. parapsilosis and eight of other or unidentified species were isolated. Non- C. albicans isolates, especially C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata , exhibited higher minimal inhibitory concentrations of azoles as compared with C. albicans. Thirteen patients (34%), all candidemic, died within 0–40 days. Untreated patients more frequently had positive cultures up to time of death ( p <0.0001) and died ( p =0.0006).
Conclusions: Invasive candidosis is frequent in pediatric patients, especially premature neonates, and is associated with increased mortality. With early diagnosis and initiation of therapy the outcome is favorable.     

Candida dubliniensis infections in a pediatric population: retrospective identification from clinical laboratory isolates of Candida albicans

Candida dubliniensis is a recently described species that shares many phenotypic and morphological features with Candida albicans. The clinical significance of isolating C. dubliniensis from the pediatric population is not clear, as most clinical isolates have been recovered from the oral cavities or bloodstreams of adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus. In order to understand further the epidemiology of C. dubliniensis in our pediatric population, we identified C. dubliniensis isolates from clinical isolates previously identified in the laboratory as C. albicans and conducted a retrospective chart review of cases of C. dubliniensis infections. A total of 205 isolates from 183 patients were tested, and only 14 (6.8%) were identified as C. dubliniensis. In 5 of the 14 positive cultures, C. dubliniensis was the sole organism isolated (two respiratory tract specimens, one tongue specimen, one vaginal specimen, and one skin specimen). A case review showed that there were no adverse outcomes for any of the patients, and only one of the patients with cultures positive for C. dubliniensis was immunocompromised. In our pediatric population, the distinction of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans did not prove to have significant clinical relevance. Data from further investigations may help to define better the role of C. dubliniensis as a potential pathogen in children.     

Use of CHROMagar Candida medium for isolation of yeasts from dental samples.

A new differential medium, CHROMagar Candida, for the isolation of clinically important yeasts was investigated to determine its usefulness in facilitating the study of oral yeasts. The recovery of yeasts on the medium was not significantly different from the recovery on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The identities of 450 green colonies on CHROMagar Candida, presumptively identified as Candida albicans on the basis of the manufacturer's instructions, were confirmed by testing for beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. Candida tropicalis also formed distinctive colonies, and other yeasts including Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata, Candida Parapsilosis, Candida Magnoliae, Candida lusitaniae, Candida Famata, Candida kefir, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were readily distinguished from C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates. CHROMagar Candida is a very useful medium, and its use will facilitate the study of yeasts associated with dental diseases.     

Differential recovery of Candida species from subgingival sites in human immunodeficiency virus-positive and healthy children from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The prevalence of subgingival Candida species was studied in 52 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 42 HIV-negative children. Candida was cultured from 22 (42.3%) and 3 (7.1%) HIV-infected and control children, respectively. C. albicans was the most common Candida species isolated from HIV-infected children, followed by C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis. In the HIV-positive group, the prevalence of Candida isolation was significantly higher in children who presented with low CD4(+)-T-lymphocyte counts, elevated viral loads, and gingivitis.