Virulence markers of opportunistic black yeast in Exophiala
MYCOSES, vol.59, no.6, pp.343-350, 2016 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 59 Issue: 6
- Publication Date: 2016
- Doi Number: 10.1111/myc.12478
- Journal Name: MYCOSES
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.343-350
- Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The black yeast genus Exophiala is known to cause a wide variety of diseases in severely ill individuals but can also affect immunocompetent individuals. Virulence markers and other physiological parameters were tested in eight clinical and 218 environmental strains, with a specific focus on human-dominated habitats for the latter. Urease and catalase were consistently present in all samples; four strains expressed proteinase and three strains expressed DNase, whereas none of the strains showed phospholipase, haemolysis, or co-haemolysis activities. Biofilm formation was identified in 30 (13.8%) of the environmental isolates, particularly in strains from dishwashers, and was noted in only two (25%) of the clinical strains. These results indicate that virulence factors are inconsistently present in the investigated Exophiala species, suggesting opportunism rather than pathogenicity.