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Electrophoretic protein patterns and numerical analysis of Candida albicans from the oral cavities of healthy children

Padrões eletroforéticos de proteínas e análise numérica de Candida albicans isoladas da cavidade oral de crianças saudáveis

Abstracts

The aim of this research was to evaluate the protein polymorphism degree among seventy-five C. albicans strains from healthy children oral cavities of five socioeconomic categories from eight schools (private and public) in Piracicaba city, São Paulo State, in order to identify C. albicans subspecies and their similarities in infantile population groups and to establish their possible dissemination route. Cell cultures were grown in YEPD medium, collected by centrifugation, and washed with cold saline solution. The whole-cell proteins were extracted by cell disruption, using glass beads and submitted to SDS-PAGE technique. After electrophoresis, the protein bands were stained with Coomassie-blue and analyzed by statistics package NTSYS-pc version 1.70 software. Similarity matrix and dendrogram were generated by using the Dice similarity coefficient and UPGMA algorithm, respectively, which made it possible to evaluate the similarity or intra-specific polymorphism degrees, based on whole-cell protein fingerprinting of C. albicans oral isolates. A total of 13 major phenons (clusters) were analyzed, according to their homogeneous (socioeconomic category and/or same school) and heterogeneous (distinct socioeconomic categories and/or schools) characteristics. Regarding to the social epidemiological aspect, the cluster composition showed higher similarities (0.788 < S D < 1.0) among C. albicans strains isolated from healthy children independent of their socioeconomic bases (high, medium, or low). Isolates of high similarity were not found in oral cavities from healthy children of social stratum A and D, B and D, or C and E. This may be explained by an absence of a dissemination route among these children. Geographically, some healthy children among identical and different schools (private and public) also are carriers of similar strains but such similarity was not found among other isolates from children from certain schools. These data may reflect a restricted dissemination route of these microorganisms in some groups of healthy scholars, which may be dependent of either socioeconomic categories or geographic site of each child. In contrast to the higher similarity, the lower similarity or higher polymorphism degree (0.499 < S D < 0.788) of protein profiles was shown in 23 (30.6%) C. albicans oral isolates. Considering the social epidemiological aspect, 42.1%, 41.7%, 26.6%, 23.5%, and 16.7% were isolates from children concerning to socioeconomic categories A, D, C, B, and E, respectively, and geographically, 63.6%, 50%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 30%, 25%, and 14.3% were isolates from children from schools LAE (Liceu Colégio Albert Einstein), MA (E.E.P.S.G. "Prof. Elias de Melo Ayres"), CS (E.E.P.G. "Prof. Carlos Sodero"), AV (Alphaville), HF (E.E.P.S.G. "Honorato Faustino), FMC (E.E.P.G. "Prof. Francisco Mariano da Costa"), and MEP (E.E.P.S.G. "Prof. Manasses Ephraim Pereira), respectively. Such results suggest a higher protein polymorphism degree among some strains isolated from healthy children independent of their socioeconomic strata or geographic sites. Complementary studies, involving healthy students and their families, teachers, servants, hygiene and nutritional habits must be done in order to establish the sources of such colonization patterns in population groups of healthy children. The whole-cell protein profile obtained by SDS-PAGE associated with computer-assisted numerical analysis may provide additional criteria for the taxonomic and epidemiological studies of C. albicans.

Numerical analysis; SDS-PAGE; C. albicans; Healthy children; Oral cavity


O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar os graus de polimorfismos protéicos entre setenta e cinco linhagens de C. albicans isoladas da cavidade oral de crianças saudáveis provenientes de cinco categorias socioeconômicas e oito escolas (particulares e públicas) do município de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo, a fim de identificar subespécies de C. albicans e suas similaridades em grupos de populações infantis e estabelecer suas possíveis rotas de disseminação. Culturas celulares foram desenvolvidas em meio YEPD, coletadas por centrifugação e lavadas com solução salina gelada. As proteínas celulares totais foram extraídas por rompimento celular usando pérolas de vidro e submetidas à técnica de SDS-PAGE. Após a eletroforese, as bandas de proteínas foram coradas com Coomassie-blue e analisadas pelo conjunto de programas estatísticos NTSYS-pc versão 1.70. Matriz de similaridade e dendrograma foram gerados, pela aplicação do coeficiente de similaridade de Dice e do algoritmo UPGMA, respectivamente, os quais permitiram avaliar os graus de polimorfismo ou similaridade intra-específico, baseados nos padrões eletroforéticos de proteínas totais de isolados orais de C. albicans. Um total de 13 principais fenons (grupos) foi analisado de acordo com suas características homogêneas (categoria socioeconômica e/ou escola idênticas) e heterogêneas (categorias socioeconômicas e/ou escolas diferentes). Com relação ao aspecto epidemiológico socioeconômico, as composições dos grupos mostraram alta similaridade (0.788 < S D < 1.0) entre algumas linhagens de C. albicans isoladas de crianças saudáveis independentemente de suas camadas socioeconômicas (alta, média e baixa). Isolados de alta similaridade não foram encontrados nas cavidades orais de crianças saudáveis pertencentes às camadas sociais A e D, B e C, ou C e E. Isto pode ser explicado pela ausência de uma rota de disseminação entre estas crianças. Geograficamente, algumas crianças saudáveis entre escolas idênticas e diferentes (particulares e públicas) também são portadoras de linhagens semelhantes, mas tal similaridade não foi encontrada entre outros de determinadas escolas. Esses dados podem refletir uma rota de disseminação restrita destes microrganismos em alguns grupos de escolares saudáveis, a qual pode ser dependente da categoria socioeconômica ou local geográfico de cada criança. Em contraste à alta similaridade, a baixa similaridade ou alto grau de polimorfismo (0.499 < S D < 0.788) dos perfis protéicos foi demonstrado em 23 (30,6%) isolados orais de C. albicans. Considerando o aspecto epidemiológico social, 42,1%, 41,7%, 26,6%, 23,5% e 16,7% foram isolados de crianças provenientes das categorias socioeconômicas A, D, C, B e E, respectivamente, e geograficamente, 63,6%, 50%, 33,3%, 33,3%, 30%, 25% e 14,3% foram isolados de crianças provenientes das escolas LAE, MA, CS, AV, HF, FMC e MEP, respectivamente. Tais resultados sugerem um maior grau de polimorfismo entre algumas linhagens isoladas de crianças saudáveis independentemente de suas camadas sociais ou locais geográficos. Estudos complementares envolvendo escolares saudáveis e seus familiares, professores, serventes, hábitos nutricionais e de higiene deverão ser realizados a fim de estabelecer as fontes de tais padrões de colonização em grupos de populações de crianças saudáveis. Os perfis de proteínas totais obtidos por SDS-PAGE associados com análise numérica computadorizada podem proporcionar critérios adicionais para os estudos epidemiológicos e taxonômicos de C. albicans.


MYCOLOGY

Electrophoretic protein patterns and numerical analysis of Candida albicans from the oral cavities of healthy children

Padrões eletroforéticos de proteínas e análise numérica de Candida albicans isoladas da cavidade oral de crianças saudáveis

Marcelo Fabiano Gomes BoriolloI; Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro RosaII; Wagner Luis de Carvalho BernardoI; Reginaldo Bruno GonçalvesI; José Francisco HöflingI

IDepartamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Laboratório de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil

IICentro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil

Correspondence Correspondence to Marcelo F.G. Boriollo Av. Limeira 901, Bairro Areião CP 052, 13414-903 Piracicaba, SP, Brasil Phone: 55 (19) 3412-5321 e-mail: pgmicro@fop.unicamp.br

SUMMARY

The aim of this research was to evaluate the protein polymorphism degree among seventy-five C. albicans strains from healthy children oral cavities of five socioeconomic categories from eight schools (private and public) in Piracicaba city, São Paulo State, in order to identify C. albicans subspecies and their similarities in infantile population groups and to establish their possible dissemination route. Cell cultures were grown in YEPD medium, collected by centrifugation, and washed with cold saline solution. The whole-cell proteins were extracted by cell disruption, using glass beads and submitted to SDS-PAGE technique. After electrophoresis, the protein bands were stained with Coomassie-blue and analyzed by statistics package NTSYS-pc version 1.70 software. Similarity matrix and dendrogram were generated by using the Dice similarity coefficient and UPGMA algorithm, respectively, which made it possible to evaluate the similarity or intra-specific polymorphism degrees, based on whole-cell protein fingerprinting of C. albicans oral isolates. A total of 13 major phenons (clusters) were analyzed, according to their homogeneous (socioeconomic category and/or same school) and heterogeneous (distinct socioeconomic categories and/or schools) characteristics. Regarding to the social epidemiological aspect, the cluster composition showed higher similarities (0.788 < SD < 1.0) among C. albicans strains isolated from healthy children independent of their socioeconomic bases (high, medium, or low). Isolates of high similarity were not found in oral cavities from healthy children of social stratum A and D, B and D, or C and E. This may be explained by an absence of a dissemination route among these children. Geographically, some healthy children among identical and different schools (private and public) also are carriers of similar strains but such similarity was not found among other isolates from children from certain schools. These data may reflect a restricted dissemination route of these microorganisms in some groups of healthy scholars, which may be dependent of either socioeconomic categories or geographic site of each child. In contrast to the higher similarity, the lower similarity or higher polymorphism degree (0.499 < SD < 0.788) of protein profiles was shown in 23 (30.6%) C. albicans oral isolates. Considering the social epidemiological aspect, 42.1%, 41.7%, 26.6%, 23.5%, and 16.7% were isolates from children concerning to socioeconomic categories A, D, C, B, and E, respectively, and geographically, 63.6%, 50%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 30%, 25%, and 14.3% were isolates from children from schools LAE (Liceu Colégio Albert Einstein), MA (E.E.P.S.G. "Prof. Elias de Melo Ayres"), CS (E.E.P.G. "Prof. Carlos Sodero"), AV (Alphaville), HF (E.E.P.S.G. "Honorato Faustino), FMC (E.E.P.G. "Prof. Francisco Mariano da Costa"), and MEP (E.E.P.S.G. "Prof. Manasses Ephraim Pereira), respectively. Such results suggest a higher protein polymorphism degree among some strains isolated from healthy children independent of their socioeconomic strata or geographic sites. Complementary studies, involving healthy students and their families, teachers, servants, hygiene and nutritional habits must be done in order to establish the sources of such colonization patterns in population groups of healthy children. The whole-cell protein profile obtained by SDS-PAGE associated with computer-assisted numerical analysis may provide additional criteria for the taxonomic and epidemiological studies of C. albicans.

Keywords: Numerical analysis; SDS-PAGE; C. albicans; Healthy children; Oral cavity.

RESUMO

O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar os graus de polimorfismos protéicos entre setenta e cinco linhagens de C. albicans isoladas da cavidade oral de crianças saudáveis provenientes de cinco categorias socioeconômicas e oito escolas (particulares e públicas) do município de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo, a fim de identificar subespécies de C. albicans e suas similaridades em grupos de populações infantis e estabelecer suas possíveis rotas de disseminação. Culturas celulares foram desenvolvidas em meio YEPD, coletadas por centrifugação e lavadas com solução salina gelada. As proteínas celulares totais foram extraídas por rompimento celular usando pérolas de vidro e submetidas à técnica de SDS-PAGE. Após a eletroforese, as bandas de proteínas foram coradas com Coomassie-blue e analisadas pelo conjunto de programas estatísticos NTSYS-pc versão 1.70. Matriz de similaridade e dendrograma foram gerados, pela aplicação do coeficiente de similaridade de Dice e do algoritmo UPGMA, respectivamente, os quais permitiram avaliar os graus de polimorfismo ou similaridade intra-específico, baseados nos padrões eletroforéticos de proteínas totais de isolados orais de C. albicans. Um total de 13 principais fenons (grupos) foi analisado de acordo com suas características homogêneas (categoria socioeconômica e/ou escola idênticas) e heterogêneas (categorias socioeconômicas e/ou escolas diferentes). Com relação ao aspecto epidemiológico socioeconômico, as composições dos grupos mostraram alta similaridade (0.788 < SD < 1.0) entre algumas linhagens de C. albicans isoladas de crianças saudáveis independentemente de suas camadas socioeconômicas (alta, média e baixa). Isolados de alta similaridade não foram encontrados nas cavidades orais de crianças saudáveis pertencentes às camadas sociais A e D, B e C, ou C e E. Isto pode ser explicado pela ausência de uma rota de disseminação entre estas crianças. Geograficamente, algumas crianças saudáveis entre escolas idênticas e diferentes (particulares e públicas) também são portadoras de linhagens semelhantes, mas tal similaridade não foi encontrada entre outros de determinadas escolas. Esses dados podem refletir uma rota de disseminação restrita destes microrganismos em alguns grupos de escolares saudáveis, a qual pode ser dependente da categoria socioeconômica ou local geográfico de cada criança. Em contraste à alta similaridade, a baixa similaridade ou alto grau de polimorfismo (0.499 < SD < 0.788) dos perfis protéicos foi demonstrado em 23 (30,6%) isolados orais de C. albicans. Considerando o aspecto epidemiológico social, 42,1%, 41,7%, 26,6%, 23,5% e 16,7% foram isolados de crianças provenientes das categorias socioeconômicas A, D, C, B e E, respectivamente, e geograficamente, 63,6%, 50%, 33,3%, 33,3%, 30%, 25% e 14,3% foram isolados de crianças provenientes das escolas LAE, MA, CS, AV, HF, FMC e MEP, respectivamente. Tais resultados sugerem um maior grau de polimorfismo entre algumas linhagens isoladas de crianças saudáveis independentemente de suas camadas sociais ou locais geográficos. Estudos complementares envolvendo escolares saudáveis e seus familiares, professores, serventes, hábitos nutricionais e de higiene deverão ser realizados a fim de estabelecer as fontes de tais padrões de colonização em grupos de populações de crianças saudáveis. Os perfis de proteínas totais obtidos por SDS-PAGE associados com análise numérica computadorizada podem proporcionar critérios adicionais para os estudos epidemiológicos e taxonômicos de C. albicans.

INTRODUCTION

Different types of electrophoretic techniques have been used for the characterization or typing of Candida species including separation of chromosomes, DNA fragments, isoenzymes, cell-wall glycoproteins and whole-cell proteins4,7,8,27,28,32,45,49. Regarding whole-cell proteins, their separation has been employed satisfactorily in the characterization of bacteria and yeasts12,21,23,56,57,58,59. The resulting electrophoretic profiles can be plotted into a binary value matrix that, with computer-assisted support, produces comparative results expressed as similarity or cophenetic correlation matrixes and phenograms24. Several investigators employed electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins in the fungi taxonomy18,20,48,59. In addition, variations in this technique made it possible to analyze the intra- and inter-specific variability of Candida species. Radiolabeling proteins with [35S] methionine were used satisfactorily in the differential identification of Candida species and other yeasts49. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) also has been used in the identification of oral yeasts. This technique showed high specificity in addition to the rapid acquisition of significant data for classification28. In several cases, unidimensional electropherograms of whole-cell proteins and DNA-DNA hybridization data were equalized as their discriminatory capacities9,22,23,24,35. Bacterial strains with 90-100% of similarity in DNA sequences generally have identical protein patterns, while those with at least 70% of similarity in DNA sequences have similar protein profiles. Such observations showed to be the major pillars on which the application of protein electrophoresis in microbes was based. Moreover, the comparison of electrophoretic protein patterns has been considered a technique having satisfactory taxonomic resolution, which may be applicable to the level of species, subspecies and biotypes24. The aim of the present investigation was the evaluation of the protein patterns and numerical analysis of C. albicans strains from healthy children oral cavities according to their socioeconomic base and/or school in order to establish their similarities and possible dissemination routes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Yeast isolation. A total of seventy-five C. albicans isolates from the oral cavities (saliva) of seventy-five healthy students (6-8 year-old), living in Piracicaba city, São Paulo State, Brazil, having a socioeconomic category (A, B, C, D, or E) and/or from schools (AV, CS, FE, FMC, HF, LAE, MA, or MEP)33 were studied. These isolates were identified by morphological criteria by germ tube test, chlamydospore test, growth in chromogenic medium CHROMagar Candida34, and associated to carbohydrate assimilation and fermentation tests33,44 (Table 1).

Cell cultivation and whole-cell protein extraction. All strains were grown in 50 mL of YEPD medium (2% dextrose, 2% peptone, 1% yeast extract) in a shaker table at 150 rpm, at 30 oC, overnight (late log phase – approx 108 cells/mL)4,8. After growth, the cells were harvested by centrifugation at 3,000 g for 5 min, and the pellets were washed three times in cold sterile 0.9% NaCl in order to remove either culture medium traces or extra-cellular metabolites60,61. The last washed pellets were transferred to micro-centrifuge tubes (2 mL) plus glass beads (v/v) and 500 mL of cold sterile water were added3,40. Cells were lysed using a Mini-Bead Beater cell disrupter (Biospec Products, Inc.) at 4,200 rpm, repeating four times of 30 sec each, at 5 min intervals, and placed in an ice bath3,40. After cell disruption, tubes were centrifuged at 10,000 g for 5 min, and the supernatant protein concentration was determined, according to BRADFORD (1976)6,15 and adjusted to 1.6 mg.mL-1 2. Equal volumes of supernatant and loading buffer (5 mM Tris, 2.5% 2-mercaptoethanol, 1.5% SDS, 0.025% bromophenol blue, 15% glycerol) were mixed and heated in a boiling water bath for 10 min7.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). SDS-PAGE protein profiles were obtained after electrophoresis of 50 mL of denatured protein solution in polyacrylamide slab gels56 with SDS (sodium dodecylsulfate) in a discontinuous buffer system25 with 4.5% stacking gel and 12.5% running gel. The electrophoresis was performed at 125 volts in a cold chamber and the protein bands present in the gels were fixed in a solution of 12.5% sulfosalicylic acid for 20 min and stained with 0.025% Coomassie Blue G-250 for 12h. The gels were destained by successive washings in acetic acid:methanol:water (1:2.5:6.5) solution 1.

Numerical analysis. The images of the gels were captured using an HP 4C scanner (Hewlett Packard Co.) and the relative mobility (Rm values and/or molecular weights) of each protein band was determined by SigmaGel software (Jandel Co.). Matches and mismatches among the bands (originated from presence/absence of protein bands) had the representations 1 and 0, respectively, considering a confidence interval of ± 1.2455. These data made it possible to construct a binary value matrix that was analyzed using the statistics package NTSYS-pc version 1.70 (Applied Biostatistics, Inc.). The Dice similarity coefficient (1945), SD = 2a/(2a + u) = 2a/(2a + b + c), was used to obtain the matrix of similarity (SD)14. Dendrogram, represented by non-rooted trees, based on SD values was generated by the unweighted pair-group arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method16,50,51. Matrix of cophenetic values (SC) was derived from the UPGMA dendrogram and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (rCS),

was then computed between the elements Sij of the original similarity matrix (SD) and cophenetic values Cjk of the matrix SC16,23,26,51,53,54. The type-strain of C. albicans CBS562 (Centralbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Delft, The Netherlands) and molecular weight markers (Bovine Serum Albumin 66,000 Da, Bovine Pancreas Trypsinogen 24,000 Da, Bovine Milk b-Lactoglobulin 18,400 Da – Sigma-Aldrich Co.) were included in this experiment, in order to establish the degree of similarity among the C. albicans strains and to determine reproducibility7,12,13,59.

RESULTS

Reproducibility. The strain protein profiles on different gels were reproducible after three repetitions of each electrophoretic running. Protein extracts of C. albicans CBS562 and molecular weight markers were applied in all gels, providing mean value SD = 0.897.

Strain clustering. The electrophoretic whole-cell protein patterns of C. albicans made possible the observation of 20 major bands per lane, within a molecular range weight varying between 18,400 Da and 66,000 Da (Fig. 1). The application of UPGMA clustering method made it possible to build a similarity dendrogram (Fig. 2), in which thirteen major clusters (13 of the 36 78.8-phenons) may be distinguished with 0.78878.8% < SD < 1.0100%. These clusters have the following compositions:

Cluster 1 (78.8-phenon I): 4 (5.3%) isolates (D19MEP, E32CS, E39CS, and E43FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (CS, FMC, and MEP) and socioeconomic categories (D and E).

Cluster 2 (78.8-phenon II): 4 (5.3%) isolates (E8CS, E10CS, E25CS, and E17FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous and homogeneous in regards to schools (CS and FMC) and socioeconomic category (E), respectively.

Cluster 3 (78.8-phenon III): 3 (4%) isolates (A61LAE, B54MA, and E7CS) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (CS, LAE, and MA) and socioeconomic categories (A, B, and E).

Cluster 4 (78.8-phenon IV): 2 (2.7%) isolates (C5FE and C17HF) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous and homogeneous in regards to schools (FE and HF) and socioeconomic category (C), respectively.

Cluster 5 (78.8-phenon VII): 2 (2.7%) isolates (E48FMC and E52FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was homogeneous in regards to both school (FMC) and socioeconomic category (E).

Cluster 6 (78.8-phenon X): 4 (5.3%) isolates (A1AV , A4FE, A7FE, and A16HF) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous and homogeneous in regards to schools (AV, FE, and HF) and socioeconomic category (A), respectively.

Cluster 7 (78.8-phenon XI): 6 (8%) isolates (C47FMC, C48HF, D13FMC, D6FMC, D5FMC, and D14FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (HF and FMC) and socioeconomic categories (C and D).

Cluster 8 (78.8-phenon XII): 10 (13.3%) isolates (A9FE, C23HF, C32MEP, B31MEP, B33HF, C20HF, C40MEP, C33MEP, C36MEP and A15FE) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (FE, HF, and MEP) and socioeconomic categories (A, B, and C).

Cluster 9 (78.8-phenon XIV): 2 (2.7%) isolates (A21FE and A28LAE) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous and homogeneous in regards to schools (FE and LAE) and socioeconomic category (A), respectively.

Cluster 10 (78.8-phenon XVI): 5 (6.7%) isolates (A50LAE, B5AV, A55LAE, B21HF, and B24MA) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (AV, HF, LAE, and MA) and socioeconomic categories (A and B).

Cluster 11 78.8-(phenon XVII): 6 (8%) isolates (B4AV, B23MA, B11FE, B13FE, B16FE, and B18FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous and homogeneous in regards to schools (AV, FE, FMC, and MA) and socioeconomic category (B), respectively.

Cluster 12 (78.8-phenon XVIII): 2 (2.7%) isolates (B15FE and C4AV) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was heterogeneous in regards to both schools (AV and FE) and socioeconomic categories (B and C).

Cluster 13 (78.8-phenon XXX): 2 (2.7%) isolates (D25FMC and D36FMC) with 0.788 < SD < 1.0. Their composition was homogeneous in regards to both school (FMC) and socioeconomic category (D).



Such compositions showed higher similarities among C. albicans strains collected from healthy children classified in identical or different socioeconomic categories. In contrast to these strongly related strains, such behavior was not observed among isolates from healthy children classified in socioeconomic categories A and D, B and D, or C and E. Geographically, some healthy children from identical and different schools also are carriers of highly similar C. albicans, but such similarity was not present among other isolates from children from certain schools (i.e. absence of high similarity among isolates from children from schools AV and CS-MEP, CS and AV-FE-HF, FE and CS, FMC and LAE, HF and CS, LAE and FMC-MEP, MA and MEP, MEP and AV-LAE-MA). These data may reflect a restricted dissemination route of such microorganisms in certain population groups in terms of its socioeconomic categories and geographic site (Fig. 3).


A total of 23 (30.6%) isolates (C44HF, D21CS, D20MEP, E57FMC, B32AV, A33LAE, A52LAE, E30CS, A17MA, A20AV, A40LAE, A48LAE, A23LAE, B38LAE, B46MA, C9FMC, B56MA, D28FMC, C16HF, D23CS, D32FMC, A64LAE, and C12HF) showed similar values of 0.49949.9%< SD < 0.78878.8%. These results suggest a higher protein polymorphism degree among some C. albicans strains from the socioeconomic categories A (842.1% /19 isolates) and D (541.7% /12 isolates), followed by C (426.7% /15 isolates), B (423.5% /17 isolates), and E (216.7% /12 isolates) categories. The same behavior was also detected between the LAE (763.6% /11 isolates) and MA (350% /6 isolates), followed by CS (333.3% /9 isolates), AV (233.3% /6 isolates), HF (330% /10 isolates), FMC (425% /16 isolates), and MEP (114.3% /7 isolates) schools.

DISCUSSION

The analysis of the electrophoretic protein profiles combining computer-statistics program enabled the identification, classification, and even the reclassification of numerous strains, species and genera of bacteria and yeasts in taxonomic and epidemiological studies11,20,23,28,39,57,58,59. In the present investigation, seventy-five C. albicans strains isolated from the oral cavities of healthy students, according to their socioeconomic categories and/or schools, were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and numerical analysis.

The reproducibility of electrophoretic protein profiles on different slab gels, by the inclusion of molecular weight markers and C. albicans CBS562 protein extract, gave the mean value of SD = 0.897 in agreement with the minimum acceptable value obtained in previous studies50. The electrophoregrams of C. albicans strains (Fig. 1) showed several protein profiles within a range of molecular weights varying between 18.4 kDa and 66 kDa, showing relative similarity when visually compared. The protein electrophoretic fingerprinting showed that protein bands greater than 45 kDa are repeated in the majority of Candida species, suggesting that it may be representative of the genus40,58,59. In an attempt to find a region of the lanes with a number of bands great enough to be able to provide an interpretation in terms of intraspecific polymorphism, the protein bands between 18.8 kDa and 66 kDa were analyzed. Such procedure was suggestive enough to express this variability making it possible to determinate several polymorphism degrees or similarities (0.78878.8% < SD < 1.0100%) among the isolates. During numerical analysis, the confidence interval of ± 1.25 was used to build a binary matrix, followed by their treatment with the Dice similarity coefficient in order to have a similarity matrix (SD). Such criterion allowed the maximization of minimal similarity values in dendrograms, with emphasis on the numerical analysis and protein fingerprinting of yeasts5,17. In order to ensure whether or not the UPGMA algorithm assess resemblance between two OTUs in the dendrogram construction, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (rCS) was computed among the elements Sij (similarity matrix SD) and Cjk (cophenetic matrix SC) derived from the dendrogram. It is a measure of the agreement between similarity values present in the dendrogram and those of the matrix SD16,23,26,51,53,54. This coefficient showed a value of rCS = 0.8784 ranging between 0.6 and 0.9551,54, according to the findings of FARRIS (1969) who pointed out that UPGMA algorithm always maximizes the rCS values. Drawing a vertical line across the dendrogram at a similarity value of 0.788078.8% (average similarity), 36 phenons (36 78.8-phenons) were detected. The average similarity value has been employed in several epidemiological studies of Candida species using proteins and DNA fingerprinting techniques associated to numerical analysis, allowing better discriminatory power during analysis of the compositions phenons (clusters) and their relationships19,36,37,39,40. Besides, this the vertical line that crosses the dendrogram arbitrarily (i.e. 0.7, 0.8, 0.9) does not correspond to criteria for the establishment of different taxonomic and epidemiological positions52.

A total of 13 major phenons (clusters) were evaluated, according to their homogeneous (identical socioeconomic category and/or school) and heterogeneous (distinct socioeconomic categories and/or schools) characteristics in order to identify C. albicans subspecies and their similarities in healthy infantile populations and to establish their possible dissemination routes. Regarding social epidemiological aspects, the composition of the clusters showed higher similarities (0.78878.8% < SD < 1.0100%) among some C. albicans strains isolated from healthy children independent of their socioeconomic strata (high, medium, or low). Interestingly, similar higher isolates were not found in oral cavities from healthy children from social stratum A and D, B and D, or C and E. This may be explained by the absence of a dissemination route among the children of those strata. According to MOREIRA et al. (2001) the prevalence of C. albicans and other Candida species is not determined by social factors. Nevertheless, the lack of research on the prevalence of such species in different social strata in our country limits further speculations concerning this matter33. Geographically, some healthy children from identical and different schools (private and public) also are carriers of C. albicans highly similar, but such similarity was not found among other isolates from children from certain schools (i.e. absence of higher similarity among isolates from children from schools AV and CS-MEP, CS and AV-FE-HF, FE and CS, FMC and LAE, HF and CS, LAE and FMC-MEP, MA and MEP, MEP and AV-LAE-MA). These data also may reflect a restricted dissemination route of C. albicans oral strains in certain population groups of healthy students, occurring because of either socioeconomic categories and geographic sites of each child (Fig. 3). Common and frequent mechanisms involved in the diversity of Candida species could explain this similarity. These include chromosomal rearrangements, chromosomal alterations, and complex and unknown gene regulations41,42. Moreover, tandemly repetitive sequences and telomeric and subtelomeric sequences have been described previously, and it has been postulated that these sequences may be involved in chromosome organization and rearrangements10,43. Furthermore, these C. albicans strains could be derived from a unique strain as a consequence of the loss of one allele by recombinations or chromosomal rearrangements sensu lato38. In contrast to higher similarity, the lower similarity or higher polymorphism degree (0.49949.9%< SD < 0.78878.8%) of the protein profiles was shown in 23 (30.6%) C. albicans oral isolates. Of these, regarding social epidemiological aspects, 42.1%, 41.7%, 26.6%, 23.5%, and 16.7% were isolates from children of socioeconomic categories A (8/19 isolates), D (5/12 isolates), C (4/15 isolates), B (4/17 isolates), and E (2/12 isolates), respectively, and geographical categories, 63.6%, 50%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 30%, 25%, and 14.3% were isolates from children from schools LAE (7/11 isolates), MA (3/6 isolates), CS (3/9 isolates), AV (2/6 isolates), HF (3/10 isolates), FMC (4/16 isolates), and MEP (1/7 isolates), respectively. These results suggest a higher protein polymorphism degree among some C. albicans strains from healthy children, independent of their socioeconomic strata or geographic sites. Recently, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis showed that healthy children could harbor just one or more genetic subtypes29, as well as immunocompromised patients with predominance of one strain, which could result from intraspecies competition38. MATEE et al. (1996) showed the predominance of several C. albicans biotypes in African infant populations, suggesting an inexistent correlation between biotypes and exogenous factors (i.e. age, nutrition, and gender)30.Southern Blot hybridization analysis with Ca3 probe showed a higher genetic similarity among C. albicans clinical strains collected from patients independent of their geographic regions46 according to our results. Research, employing isoenzyme and DNA fingerprinting analysis (MLEE, RAPD, RFLP using hybridization with Ca3 and CARE2 probes) also showed strictly related C. albicans clinical strains (i.e. sexual pairs, different anatomical sites of the same individual, and phenotypic variants of the same isolate) and some non-related isolates (i.e. different geographic regions, immunocompromised and immunocompetent non-related individuals) clustered in phenons with similarity of SAB> 0.9436. The higher and lower similarity among C. albicans strains may be explained by the relationship and non-relationship or existent and non-existent dissemination routes, respectively, among healthy-children groups. In this context, the genetic similarity among C. albicans strains, harvested from women with vulvovaginitis and their male partners47,55, as well as the genetic similarity among isolates from family members having the same activities has been reported31. Complementary studies involving healthy students and their families, teachers, servants, hygiene and nutritional habits must be done in order to establish specific sources of colonization patterns in population groups of healthy children. In general terms, the whole-cell protein profiles obtained by SDS-PAGE associated with computer-assisted numerical analysis, showed to be an important resource for taxonomic and epidemiological studies of yeasts.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research work was supported by FAPESP (Proc. 97/13518-3)

58. VANCANNEYT, M.; LERBERGE, E.V.; BERNY, J.F.; HENNEBERT, G.L. & KERSTERS, K. - The application of whole-cell protein electrophoresis for the classification and identification of basidiomycetous yeast species. Antonie v. Leeuwenhoek, 61: 69-78, 1992.

Received: 24 Februarry 2003

Accepted: 17 September 2003

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  • Correspondence to
    Marcelo F.G. Boriollo
    Av. Limeira 901, Bairro Areião
    CP 052, 13414-903 Piracicaba, SP, Brasil
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  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      11 Nov 2003
    • Date of issue
      Oct 2003

    History

    • Accepted
      17 Sept 2003
    • Received
      24 Feb 2003
    Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 05403-000 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil, Tel. +55 11 3061-7005 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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