Proteolytic Activity of Non-albicans Candida albicans and Candida albicans in Oral Cancer Patients

Objectives: Our purpose was to investigate differences in proteolytic activity of non-albicans Candida albicans (non-albicans Candida) and Candida albicans in oral cancer patients. The hypothesis was based on anticipated different invasive capacity of the strains.
Methods: Clinical and reference yeast samples from our laboratory were used for analyses. Candida strains were grown in yeast peptone glucose at 37^oC for 24 hours in water bath with shaking. The activity of Candida proteinases of broken cell fractions were analyzed by MDPF gelatin zymography.
Results: The study showed differences in the proteolytic activity among the non-albicans Candida and Candida albicans strains. C. tropicalis had higher proteolytic activity followed by both strains of C. krusei and C.glabrata while C. albicans showed no activity.
Conclusions: The present findings confirmed our study hypothesis by showing differences between the non-albicans Candida and Candida albicans strains studied. Higher proteolytic activity may have an effect on virulence activity of non-albicans Candida strains in oral cancer patients.