CLUSTER OF ORAL ATYPICAL CANDIDA-ALBICANS ISOLATES IN A GROUP OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-POSITIVE DRUG-USERS

Twenty-one chlamydospore-forming and germ tube-positive Candida albica ns clinical isolates from 15 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positi ve and 3 HIV-negative patients were examined by two different genetic methods. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, and hybridization with the C. albicans-specific Ca3 probe showed that such isolates can be split into two genetically distinct groups that can be clearly distinguishe d. One group mainly contained strains,vith atypical sugar assimilation patterns and could be distinguished from the other group by the absen ce of intracellular beta-glucosidase activity. All 13 strains belongin g to this group were isolated from the oral cavities of asymptomatic H IV-positive drug users and may be less pathogenic than the eight strai ns from the other group isolated either from HIV-positive patients wit h oropharyngeal candidiasis or from HIV-negative patients with invasiv e candidiasis.