Effects of various metal and drug agents on excretion of enzyme aspartyl proteinase in Candida albicans and its role in human physiological processes

Abstract

Candida albicans, the polymorphic fungus that colonizes mucosa of mouth and gastrointestinal tract, is a member of normal microbiota. However, under special circumstances, this microorganism can switch from harmless, commensal into invasive, opportunistic pathogen, causing even life-threating infections in humans. Aspartyl proteinase is an enzyme that acts as one of the cruical virulence determinants of Candida albicans and is involved in tissue degradation and dissamination of infection characteristic for oropharyngeal or vaginal candidasis. In our study we investigated influence of different agents, metals and drugs, on fungal excretion of aspartyl proteinase. We could see that already know degradation of human proteins caused by microbial proteinases can be enhanced due to stimulatory effect of iron metal ions and analgesics. These agents significantly increased secretion of aspartyl proteinase and enhanced virulence mechanism of Candida albicans.