HWP1 Gene Sequence Diversity and Antifungal Susceptibility Patterns in Colombian Vulvovaginal Isolates of the Candida albicans Species Complex.

Background

Candida albicans complex species are the main cause of candidiasis.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence and genetic diversity of C. albicans complex using hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1) gene size polymorphism, as well as the susceptibility patterns to fluconazole and voriconazole.

Methods

A total of 170 yeast isolates were obtained from vulvovaginal samples, and phenotypic and proteomic identification was performed.

Results

Most clinical isolates were C. albicans complex (n = 153) followed by C. glabrata (n = 13), C. parapsilosis complex (n = 2), and Pichia kudriavzevii (n = 2). Among C. albicans complexes, all isolates were C. albicans sensu stricto and 2.61% and 4.58% were resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively.

Conclusions

The presence of different alleles was confirmed, heterozygosity was more common than homozygosity (71.03% vs. 28.97%), and some isolates showed a homozygosis pattern not previously described. Despite these genetic diversities, no specific genotype was linked to azole resistance.