Evaluating the Adherence of Fluconazole Resistant Candida albicans Species in comparison with Candida glabrata Species on Vagina and Intestine Cell Lines

Aim and Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common female genital tract infections that is caused by overgrowth Candida species, especially Candida albicans and sometimes becomes chronic and recurrent form. Candida glabrata is the second or third leading cause of candidiasis after C. albicans. Following the widespread and increased use of immunosuppressive therapy along with broad-spectrum antimycotic therapy, the frequency of mucosal and systemic infections caused by C. glabrata has increased significantly. Fluconazole is one of the most common drugs used for treatment of this type of candidiasis but resistant is also seen. The first step in infection is adherence to epithelial cells. This study was designed to evaluate the adherence of fluconasole sensitive or resistant Candida albicans and Candida glabrata to Vagina and Intestine cell lines. In this study, 160 vaginal swabs were collected from women with vaginal candidiasis. Then samples were cultured on Sabaouraud Dextros Agar and Chromagar for morphologic analysis. For final identification of Candida species the PCR-RFLP was done and C. albicans and C. glabrata were selected for our study. Hella and HT29 cell line cultured in DMEM medium supplemented with FBS. The yeast cells were adjusted to 1×106 cell and then cultured with definite number of each cell line separately in 96- well micro plate and incubated in 37°C for 24 hours. After this period, the number of adherent and non-adherent cells was counted by culture on Sabaouraud Dextros Agar and colony count assay. According to our result, the clinical isolates are resistant to fluconazole and C. glabrata isolates had more ability to adhere to vaginal epithelial cells compared with C. albicans; but, in contrast, C. albicans had more ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells rather than C. glabrata. This research showed that C. glabrata had more ability to adhere to vaginal cells. As regards, there is little information about the reaction between C. glabrata and innate immune system, Therefore, recognition of the reactions and factors that mediate adherence to host epithelial surfaces has a particular importance for finding new aspects in the pathogenesis and a more suitable treatment for the disease.