Virulence profile of Candida spp. isolated from an anaerobic biodigester supplied with dairy cattle waste

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2024-02, Vol.187, p.106516-106516, Article 106516
• Main Authors: Branda Dos Reis, Camila, Otenio, Marcelo Henrique, Júnior, Anderson Machado de Melo, Maia Dornelas, João Carlos, Fonseca do Carmo, Paulo Henrique, Viana, Roberta Oliveira, Santos Ricoy, Ana Carolina, de Souza Alves, Viviane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106516

Anaerobic biodigesters play a crucial role in enhancing animal waste management. However, the presence of pathogens in the biodigestion process poses a significant concern. Candida spp., a widespread fungus known for its opportunistic nature and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including reciprocal transmission between humans and animals, is one such pathogen of concern. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the virulence profile of Candida spp. originating from anaerobic biodigestion processes. Here we demonstrate that strains isolated from the biodigestion process of dairy cattle waste exhibit noteworthy virulence mechanisms, surpassing the virulence of clinical control strains. After we identified strains from affluent, effluent, and biofertilizer, we observed that all analyzed isolates produced biofilm. Additionally, a substantial proportion of these isolates demonstrated phospholipase production, while only a few strains exhibited protease production. Furthermore, all strains exhibited resistance or dose-dependent responses to amphotericin B and itraconazole, with the majority displaying resistance to fluconazole. In the in vivo test, we observed a significant correlation (p