Draft Genome Sequence of a Diploid and Hybrid Candida Strain, Candida sanyaensis UCD423, Isolated from Compost in Ireland

Candida sanyaensis is a CUG-Ser1 clade yeast that is associated with soil. Assembly of short-read and long-read data shows that C. sanyaensis has a diploid and hybrid genome, with approximately 97% identity between the haplotypes. The haploid genome size is approximately 15.4 Mb.

Characterization of the Dielectrophoretic Response of Different Candida Strains Using 3D Carbon Microelectrodes

Bloodstream infection with Candida fungal cells remains one of the most life-threatening complications among hospitalized patients around the world. Although most of the cases are still due to Candida albicans, the rising incidence of infections caused by other Candida strains that may not respond to traditional anti-fungal treatments merits the development of a method for species-specific isolation of Candida. To this end, here we present the characterization of the dielectrophoresis (DEP) response of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. We complement such characterization with a study of the Candida cells morphology. The Candida strains exhibited subtle differences in their morphology and dimensions. All the Candida strains exhibited positive DEP in the range 10–500 kHz, although the strength of the DEP response was different for each Candida strain at different frequencies. Only Candida tropicalis showed positive DEP at 750 kHz. The current results show potential for manipulation and enrichment of a specific Candida strain at specific DEP conditions towards aiding in the rapid identification of Candida strains to enable the effective and timely treatment of Candida infections.

Antifungal activity of aqueous and corn steep liquor extract of Ficus exasperata, Anonna muricata and Azadiractha indica

This study investigated the activity of aqueous and corn steep liquor (CSL) extracts of Ficus exaperasta, Annona muricata and Azadirachta indica against Candida spp. isolated from high vaginal swab samples. Phytochemical screening of the plants was done using standard methods, the antifungal activity of the plant's extracts and standard drugs were tested against isolates of Candida spp. using the agar well diffusion method; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were also determined using microdilution standardized techniques. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous and CSL extracts of the plants revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Among the five Candida strain isolates, the zone of inhibition produced by the plant extracts against C. albicans shows a range of 0-18.3 mm; C. krusei (strain A): 5.1-24.5 mm; C. krusei (strain B): 0-18.0 mm; C. kefyr (strain A): 6.1-27.5 mm; and C. kefyr (strain B): 0-22.0 mm. The CSL extract had higher inhibitory action compared with aqueous extract, also F. exasperata and A. muricata gave better antifungal activity against the tested Candida strains. The MIC of the aqueous and CSL extracts of the F. exasperata ranged between 6.25-12.50 mg/mL; A. muricata: 3.125-12.500 mg/mL, while the aqueous and CSL extracts of A. indica was found to have no activity at all the tested concentrations against C. albicans, C. krusei (strain A) and C. krusei (strain B), similar observation for the MFC. This study proved the antifungal efficacy of aqueous and CSL extracts of F. exasperata, A. muricata, and A. indica against isolates of Candida species which are usually implicated in candidiasis.

Comparison of fluconazole and amphotericin B in prophylaxis of experimental Candida endocarditis caused by non-C. albicans strains.

Amphotericin B (1 mg/kg of body weight, intravenous) and fluconazole (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) were compared in the prophylaxis of experimental Candida endocarditis caused by drug-susceptible, non-C. albicans strains C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. Neither antifungal agent was effective at preventing endocarditis due to either Candida strain when either agent was administered in a single-dose regimen (1 h prior to fungal challenge); the prophylactic efficacy of both agents increased substantially when a second prophylactic dose was given (24 h postchallenge). The excellent prophylactic efficacy of fluconazole, a fungistatic agent, underscores the importance of microbistatic mechanisms in endocarditis prophylaxis.