Lack of relationship between genotype and virulence in Candida species

Abstract

Background: The virulence of isolates among different Candida species causing candidemia may play a role in the prognosis of the patients. Furthermore, the potential relationship between genotype and virulence is still unclear and need to be further studied.

Aims: We aim to assess the relationship between genotype and virulence in Candida species using a Galleria mellonella larvae infection model.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-four isolates from 68 clusters (Candida albicans, 114/41; Candida parapsilosis, 74/24; Candida tropicalis, 6/3) were compared against the same number of each species singleton genotypes in terms of survival of G. mellonella larvae.

Results: The median of survival and the IQR ranges of clusters and singleton were as follows: C. albicans (2 days, IQR 1.5-2 vs. 2 days, IQR 1-2.25), C. parapsilosis (2 days, IQR 1.5-2.6 vs. 2 days, IQR 2-3.3), and C. tropicalis (1 day, IQR 1-3.5 vs. 2 days, IQR 2-3.5; p<0.05). High intra-cluster variability in terms of median of survival was found regardless the species.

Conclusions: No relationship between genotype and virulence in Candida was observed with the G. mellonella model.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Candida parapsilosis; Candida tropicalis; Galleria mellonella; Genotipado; Genotyping; Virulence; Virulencia.