Phospholipase and protease activities in clinical Candida isolates with reference to the sources of strains

Abstract

The present study was aimed at determining in vitro phospholipase and protease activities in 95 clinical isolates of various Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii,C.kefyr, C. krusei, C. lipolytica, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C.rugosa and C. tropicalis ). 59 (62.1%) of isolates examined were phospholipase positive and 75 (78.9.9%) were protease positive. 56 (93.3%) of C.albicans isolates tested were phospholipase producers - however only a few strains of C. glabrata and C. kefyr behaved in the same way. Protease activity was detected in 57 (95%) of C. albicans strains tested and in a few strains of C. kefyr, C.lipolytica, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis - the remaining isolates were negative. 56 strains of C.albicans and 2 strains of C. kefyr tested produced both phospholipase and protease.