PREVALENCE AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF Candida spp. ISOLATED FROM VULVOVAGINITIS IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ | Journal of Disease and Global Health

 Candida species-induced vulvovaginitis is a widespread fungal infection among adult and pregnant women. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is caused by Candida albicans (VVC). The participants in the study were 250 women ranging in age from 17 to 45 years old who were attending specialist hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Candida spp. was detected using standard methods and biochemical tests after vaginal smears were cultured on selective chrome agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was also used to identify isolates, with the universal ITS4 area primer and species-specific primers. There were 141 (56.4%) yeast isolates from the 250 vaginal smears obtained, with 81 (57.4%) Candida albicans and 60 (42.6%) non-albicans. Candida albicans was the most common Candida species (57.4 percent), followed by C. glabrata (20.6 percent), C. tropicalis (13.5 percent), and C. krusei (12.5%). Candida spp. were identified by PCR, which verified the primary identification by biochemical tests. The internal transcript spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 primers produced amplification products of 402 bp in the PCR assays for C. albicans in the examined samples and a high sensitivity to molecular detection for Candida species other than albicans among the local isolates. Finally, the high prevalence of Candida isolates among Iraqi female Vulvovaginitis patients highlights the importance of frequent candidiasis screening and evaluation in Iraqi hospitals.

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ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF GRAPE SEED EXTRACT MEDIATED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES - AN In vitro STUDY | PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Background: Nanotechnology is rapidly growing in various fields of science like medicinal, agricultural, physical and material sciences. Zinc oxide is used as an important ingredient in many enzymes, sun screens and ointments for pain. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are unique in that   they can be produced with high surface areas and with unusual wurtzite hexagonal crystal structures.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to analyse the antifungal activity of grape seed mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Materials and Methods: The grape seed powder (Vitis vinifera) was acquired. An aqueous extract was prepared and mixed with zinc sulphate for zinc oxide nanoparticles formation and centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes. The extract was then placed in the well cultured agar plates against Candida albicans and incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC. The zones of inhibition were calculated.

Results: Grape seed mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles have good antifungal activity with the zone of inhibition of 16 mm in the highest concentration and it was compared with the fluconazole which showed a zone of inhibition of 30 mm.

Conclusion: The antifungal activity of grape seed extract mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles were studied and their wider zones of inhibition were suggestive of good antifungal activity.

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MOLECULAR METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING Candida INFECTION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

In current time, invasive fungal infections have become a major threat for the immunocompromised hospitalised patients. Also, healthy individuals are much prone to the commensal yeasts of the oral cavity. Different surveys and studies have recorded increased rate of Candida albicans and non-albicans such as of C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei in local and systemic fungal infections. Thus, a rapid and correct identification of different Candida species plays an important role in diagnosis and antifungal therapy against candidiasis. The conventional diagnostic methods, such as histopathology and culture which are based on morphological and physiological attributes are low in sensitivity and also not very accurate. Development and standardisation of various molecular techniques (both PCR and non-PCR based) have proved to be promising approach for correct and quicker identification of Candida species. More and more technical development in these methods can bring their widespread clinical use with much more ease in coming days. The purpose of this review is to highlight the value, limitations and current state of different molecular approaches utilized for species level identification in Candida diagnostics.

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