CANDIDA-ALBICANS BIOTYPES ISOLATED FROM THE ORAL CAVITY OF HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Candida albicans has been frequently isolated from several infectious processes among patients with immunosuppressive illnesses, patients su bmitted to transplants and/or treatment with antibiotics and HIV posit ive individuals. The virulence mechanisms by which this yeast expresse s its pathogenicity include adherence patterns, production of extracel lular enzymes and ability to form pseudomycelia, among others. In this work, the behavior of 50 samples of Candida albicans isolated from or al lesions of HIV positive patients were studied with respect to serot ype, production of proteinase and phospholipase and sensitivity to kil ler toxins. Serotyping was performed by the agglutination method using a monospecific serum (serotype A). The proteolytic and phospholipase activities were determined using bovine serum albumin (Fraction V) med ium and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with egg yolk. The killer system with 9 standard strains was utilized. Most of the samples studied belonged to serotype A (70%). Production of proteinase and phospholipase was de tected in 96% and 90% of the samples, respectively. Concerning suscept ibility to killer toxins, 10 different types were observed, with preva lence of biotype 211 (64.5%).