Evaluation of Vacuolar Aspartic Proteinase (VAP) Gene Expression in Candida albicans Strains Isolated from Systemic Candidiasis Patients

Introduction & Vacuolar proteinase is an aspartic enzyme in Candida albicans (C. albicans) that is expressed by VAP gene and plays an important role in the development of systemic candidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate VAP gene expression in C. albicans strains isolated from patients with systemic candidiasis.
The evaluation of VAP gene expression was performed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and samples were electrophoresed in 1.5% agarose gels. In addition, a total of 48 female Balb/c mice (six-weeks old and weight of 25 g) were experimentally infected by various C. albicans strains and the level of VAP gene expression was assessed in yeasts obtained from the blood of infected mice.
The level of VAP gene expression in non-Iranian strains was significantly higher than those of Iranian strains (P VAP gene as producer proteinase can act as an important gene in the development of systemic candidiasis caused by C. albicans.