Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy on Candida species isolated from oral samples of children exposed and not exposed to HIV

Efetividade da terapia fotodinâmica sobre espécies de Candida isoladas de amostras bucais de crianças expostas e não expostas ao HIV

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Identify yeast species isolated from unexposed, exposed and HIV-carrier children, and verify the effectiveness of low power laser photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the yeasts species belonging to the Candida genus.

Methods:

Fifty children assisted by the Public Health Program of the city of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, were selected and divided into three groups: unexposed to HIV, exposed to HIV during pregnancy, and HIV-carrier. Saliva samples were collected in a disposable sterile universal container and were plated to Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with 0.1 mg/mL chloramphenicol. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h. Three strains of each patient were identified by using an API 20 C AUX system. The strains were submitted to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a 660 nm low power laser and methylene blue dye at different times of irradiation (90, 180 and 282 sec.).

Results:

The results showed that the most prevalent species was Candida albicans followed by Candida famata (second most prevalent in unexposed to HIV and HIV carriers)) and Candida parapsilosis (second most prevalent in exposed to HIV group). The CFU/mL of Candida spp. decreased significantly (p<0,05) in all groups treated with PDT compared to the controls. Photodynamic therapy treatments at different exposure times (e.g., PS+L90+, PS+L180+, PS+L282+) revealed that the exposure time of 282 sec. gave the highest reduction of the mean logarithmic CFU/mL.

Conclusion:

Candida albicans was the most prevalent Candida species in these three groups and Candida non-albicans species, when combined, amounted to a significant percentage of Candida isolates. Photodynamic therapy was effective in inactivating the Candida spp. isolated from the oral cavity of children not exposed to HIV, exposed to HIV and HIV-carriers, with the best photodynamic therapy irradiation time being 282 sec.

Indexing terms:
Candida; Children; HIV; Methylene blue; Photochemotherapy

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Identificar espécies de leveduras isoladas de crianças não expostas, expostas ao HIV e portadoras de AIDS, e verificar a eficácia da terapia fotodinâmica com laser de baixa potência sobre as espécies de leveduras pertencentes ao gênero Candida.

Métodos:

Cinquenta crianças atendidas pelo Programa de Saúde Pública da cidade de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, foram selecionadas e divididas em três grupos: não expostas ao HIV, expostas ao HIV durante a gravidez e portadoras da AIDS. Amostras de saliva foram coletadas em um recipiente universal descartável estéril e foram semeadas em ágar Sabouraud dextrose suplementado com 0,1 mg / mL de cloranfenicol. As placas foram incubadas a 37°C durante 48h. Três cepas de cada paciente foram identificadas utilizando o sistema API 20 C AUX. As cepas foram submetidas à Terapia Fotodinâmica com laser de baixa potência de 660 nm e corante azul de metileno em diferentes tempos de irradiação (90, 180 e 282 segundos).

Resultados:

Os resultados mostraram que a espécie isolada mais prevalente nos grupos estuddos foi Candida albicans, seguida de Candida famata (segunda mais prevalene nos grupos não expostos ao HIV e com AIDS) e Candida parapsilosis (segunda mais prevalente no grupo exposto ao HIV). Houve diminuição significante de CFU/ml de Candida spp. (p <0,05) em todos os grupos tratados com terapia fotodinâmica, em comparação com os controles. A terapia fotodinâmica, nos diferentes tempos (e.g., PS+L90+, PS+L180+, PS+L282+) mostrou que o tempo de 282 seg. apresentou a maior redução em media de logarítmo de UFC/mL.

Conclusão:

Candida albicans foi a espécie de Candida mais prevalente isolada nos três grupos e as espécies de Candida não-albicans, quando combinadas, contribuíram com porcentagem significativa dos isolados de Candida. A PDT foi eficaz na inativação de Candida spp. isoladas a partir da cavidade oral de crianças não expostas, expostas ao HIV e portadoras da AIDS, com o melhor tempo de irradiação sendo o de 282 seg.

Termos de indexação:
Candida; Criança; HIV; Azul de metileno; Fotoquimioterapia

INTRODUCTION

Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a global epidemic that has transformed medical practices as well as public health policies and is currently undergoing an epidemiological transition with the virus now spreading to small urban centers, heterosexual individuals, and vertical transmission¹. Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that has a predilection for immune cells, especially TCD4 lymphocytes and causes their progressive destruction. Patients with AIDS are more susceptible to the so-called "opportunistic infections"^2-3. Since the virus causes substantial immunosuppression, pathogens can easily multiply, which in turn increases the chances of infection, thus leading to increased morbidity and hospitalization time⁴.

In AIDS patients, among the various opportunistic infections, oral candidiasis is one of the most prevalent. The yeasts of Candida genus, which constitute a large population of the oral microbiota, play an important role because they are favored by antibiotic substances, which is common in immunosuppressed patients⁵. Infection frequency and severity resulting from the manifestation of opportunistic Candida spp. in AIDS patients increase with the progression of the disease because of a weak of defense system due to the lack of T lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells⁶. Although the dissemination of antiretroviral drugs has led to a decrease in the frequency of opportunistic infections, the occurrence of many adverse reactions, delayed diagnosis and non-responsiveness to therapy, candidiasis is still prevalent and clinically debilitating⁷. Among children infected with HIV, both in developed and in developing countries, pseudomembranous candidiasis is the most prevalent form of the disease, followed by erythematous candidiasis and angular cheilitis. HIV-positive children with oral candidiasis have poor survival prognosis, besides the fact that the disease may worsen the condition of the already compromised immune system as colonization may sprend to the esophagus and the respiratory tract, hampering feeding, leading to malnutrition and accentuating immunosuppression^8-9.

The treatment of superficial fungal infections using photosensitizing agents and light, known as photodynamic therapy (PDT), has gathered attention as a viable alternative over conventional treatments, because these microorganisms are becoming increasingly resistant to the effects of antibiotics and antifungal agents^10-13. PDT is based on the principle that the interaction of light at a suitable wavelength with a non-toxic compound (photosensitizer) in the presence of oxygen results in the formation of reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (¹O2) and toxic radicals. These radicals are capable of irreversibly damaging cellular structures, which kill microorganisms by fast oxidation of its constituents, especially membrane macromolecules^3-13.

Another advantage of PDT treatment is the specificity of the photosensitizer to the microorganism and the absence of harmful effects on non-target cells such as the host cells. The combination of a photosensitizing dye with low-intensity light does not cause damage to animal cells, because the photosensitizer concentrations differ in addition to higher doses of light being required^12-14.

The advantages of PDT as a treatment include no side effects, easy applicability, verified anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and low costs, which may contribute to the improvement of the patients quality of life, especially those who are subjected to painful or invasive treatments that are cost-intensive.

Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and identify Candida genus yeasts obtained from oral samples of unexposed, exposed and HIV-carrier children, in collaboration with the National Health System (Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil) and to evaluate the activity of PDT using a low power laser and methylene blue dye on the identified Candida spp.

METHODS

The protocol used in this study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research of the Department of Health of Bahia - SESAB in Salvador-Brazil (registration number: CAAE 0124.0.053.000-08, number opinion: 348.2009).

Patients selection

For this study, 50 children assisted by the Public Health Program of the city of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, were selected and divided into three groups: (a) children unexposed to HIV (n = 20); (b) children exposed to HIV during pregnancy, but who did not contract the virus through vertical transmission (n = 15); and (c) HIV-carrier children (n = 15).

The inclusion criteria were: children aged 5-12 years; positive for Candida spp. in oral samples; parents and / or guardians authorizing the participation by signing the informed consent. The exclusion criteria were: antibiotic or antifungal therapy for at least 60 days before collection; Metabolically controlled diabetic individuals; patients with orthodontic braces (top or bottom); and presence of lesions suggestive of oral candidiasis.

Patients were included in the group of children with positive status for AIDS if they were HIV-seropositive who made use of antiretroviral medications for at least 1 year. For all patients, general and oral health conditions, drugs association (e.g. "cocktail") and treatment time were evaluated during the medical interview.

Collection and Samples processing

After obtaining informed consent from the parents of the children, saliva samples were collected in a disposable sterile universal container. The containers were identified by code and kept in a thermal bag with ice for transportation to the Microbiology laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Health, Federal University of Bahia, Campus Vitória da Conquista, where sample processing was conducted within a maximum period of 3 hours from sample collection and processing.

Decimal dilutions (10^-1, 10^-2, and 10^-3) of the collected saliva samples were made with sterile saline solution (0.85% NaCl) using eppendorf tubes. An aliquot (100 mL) of pure saliva and dilutions were plated in duplicate on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud dextrose agar (Himedia, Mumbai, India) supplemented with 0.1 mg/mL chloramphenicol (Union Nacional SA Pharmaceutical Chemistry). The plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h. Once growth stopped, the plates were incubated at room temperature for 5 days.

After growth, colonies were examined for morphological characteristics (e.g., size, shape and surface) and counted to obtain the colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). Subsequently, isolates were obtained from three strains suggestive of yeast randomly selected from each individual sample, plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. After growth, the plates were stored for subsequent identification.

Samples identification

Three strains were identified among the isolates obtained from each patient using an API 20 C AUX system (bioMerieux^(r) AS L'Etoile, France). The kit consists of a gallery that include 20 domes containing dehydrated substrates to perform 19 sugars assimilation tests. The domes were inoculated with minimal culture medium and yeasts developed only if they were capable of using the corresponding substrate. Evaluation of these reactions was made by comparing the growth in the different substrates and the strains were identified by querying the analytical catalogue or using an identification system based on a numerical profile.

Photosensitizing dye and light parameters

Methylene blue (Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis - USA) was diluted at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL in sterile distilled water and then filtered on a syringe-coupled filter membrane (pore size, 0.22 μm) (Millipore, São Paulo, Brazil).

Irradiation with a low power laser was carried out using a PhotonLase III apparatus (DMC Equipment LTDA, São Carlos-SP, Brazil) equipped with the active medium InGaAIP at a wavelength of 660 nm, which produces red visible light corresponding to the maximum absorption length of the methylene blue dye. Other parameters were output power of 100 mW, beam diameter of 0.028 cm2, continuous application mode and irradiation times of 90, 180, and 282 sec., which resulted in total energy of 9 J, 18 J, and 28,2 J and fluences of 321 J/cm², 637 J/cm² and 999 J/cm², respectively. The laser beam output was kept at the distance of 2 mm from the microorganism suspension, resulting in irradiance of 3.571 mW/cm².

Experimental conditions

After 24 h culture of the identified species, a 1 x 10⁶ cells/mL standardized suspension was obtained by spectrophotometry. In a dark room, 100 μL of the standard microorganism suspension and 100 μL methylene blue, were added to the plates wells in a laminar flow hood and left in the dark for 5 minutes (pre-irradiation or dye impregnation to the cells phase). Then, irradiation was performed for 90 sec., 180 sec., and 282 sec. (PS+L90+, PS+L180+, and PS+L282+, respectively) using a low power laser. After serial irradiation dilutions (e.g., 10^-1, 10^-2, and 10^-3) cultures were plated in duplicate on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud dextrose agar (Himedia, Mumbai, India) and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. After the incubation period, CFU/mL count was performed. Samples not subjected to any treatment and containing 100 μL of sterile saline were used as controls. The control groups were only subjected to the effect of the dye for 5 min (PS+ L-) or were only irradiated for 90 sec., 180 sec., and 282 sec. (PS-L90+, PS-L180+ and PS-L282+, respectively).

Statistical analysis of results

The isolated yeasts were identified and the data expressed as percentage of yeasts observed in each group. To observe the effectiveness of PDT against Candida spp. and obtain a comparisons with other treatments, the mean logarithm of CFU/mL for each experimental condition (e.g., PS-L-; PS+L-; PS-L90+; PS-L180+; PS-L282+; PS+L90+; PS+L180+; and PS+L282+) was calculated for each individual. The Kolmogorov Smirnov normality test was used to observe the sample normal distribution. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the experimental treatments within the same group and the mean logarithm of CFU/mL after PDT treatments for different time points between groups. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Table 1 shows the percentages of each yeast species identified in all the groups of children selected for the study. The most prevalent species was Candida albicans. Only the yeasts belonging to the Candida genus were used in our experiments.

Table 1
Description, composition, manufacturer and batch of adhesive cementation materials.

Materials batch	Groups
	Unexposed (%)	Exposed (%)	HIV-Carrier (%)
Candida albicans	48.8	25.64	58.13
Candida parapsilosis	17.7	23.07	0
Candida famata	24.4	20.51	13.9
Candida tropicalis	2.2	5.12	4.65
Candida norvegensis	0	2.56	0
Candida kefyr	0	2.56	0
Candida dubliniensis	0	2.56	6.97
Candida utilis	2.2	0	4.65
Candida sphaerica	0	0	6.97
Candida peliculosa	0	0	2.32
Sacharomyces	4.44	5.12	0
Trichosporon	0	5.12	0
Criptococcus	0	7.69	2.32

For the group of unexposed children, the experimental treatments were effective in reducing Candida spp. CFU/mL, with the exception of the groups PS+L- and PS-L90+, which presented no statistical difference (p > 0.05) when compared to the control group (PS-L) (Figure 1). No statistical difference was found between the groups treated with photosensitizing dye only (PS+L-) and those treated only with laser application at different times (PS-L90+, PS-L180+, and PS-L282+) (p > 0.05), indicating the same treatment effectiveness. The groups treated with PDT (PS+L+) revealed the best results in reduction of the mean logarithmic CFU/mL of Candida spp. at all exposure times, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found compared to the control groups (PS+L- and PS- L90+, PS-L180+, PS-L282+). PDT treatments at different exposure times (e.g., PS+L90+, PS+L180+, PS+L282+) revealed that the exposure time of 282 sec. gave the highest reduction of the mean logarithmic CFU/mL.

Figure 1
Average log10 (CFU / mL) values along with the relative standard deviation (error bars) obtained from a one-way ANOVA for the experimental groups of children not exposed to HIV. PS- L- (no treatment group); PS+ L- (group treated only with methylene blue for 5 min) PS-L+ (groups treated only with laser); 90, 180, and 282 s represent the laser application times; PS+ L+ (groups treated with photodynamic therapy). Values followed by different letters are statistically different.

Different results were obtained from the data analysis of the HIV-exposed children group, for which all treatments showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the mean logarithmic CFU/mL count when compared to the control. The comparison between the groups treated with methylene blue only (PS+ L-) or with laser only at all the exposure times (e.g., PS- L90+, PS- L180+ and PS- L282+) and the groups treated with PDT at all the exposure times (e.g., PS+L90+, PS+L180+, and PS+L282+) showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), with PDT treatment showing the highest reduction in CFU count. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in the CFU count reduction between the treatments with laser only at all the exposure times (e.g., PS-L90+, PS-L180+ and PS-L282+). However, when the CFU count were compared between the groups treated with PDT, it was observed that exposure time of 282 sec. gave the best result. This was in agreement with the results obtained for the groups of children unexposed to HIV (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Average log10 (CFU/mL) along with the relative standard deviation (error bars) for the experimental groups of children exposed to HIV. PS- L- (no treatment group); PS+ L- (group treated only with methylene blue for 5 min); PS-L+ (group treated only with laser), 90, 180, and 282 represent the laser application times, respectivelly; PS+L+ (groups treated with photodynamic therapy). Values followed by different letters are statistically different.

For the group of HIV-carrier children, all experimental treatments showed antifungal activity against Candida spp., differing from the control group (p < 0.05). For the groups treated with methylene blue or laser only, there was no statistical difference, demonstrating equal effectiveness in reducing the CFU count of Candida spp. Tests conducted with PDT showed the best results in Candida spp. inactivation compared to the other groups, with the best reduction observed in the test with PDT treatment for 282 sec., which was similar to the results obtained for the groups of children exposed and unexposed to HIV (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Average log10 (CFU/mL) along with the relative standard deviation (error bars) for the experimental groups of HIV-carrier children. PS-L- (no treatment group); PS+L- (group treated only with methylene blue for 5 min); PS- L+ (group treated only with laser); 90, 180, and 282 represent the laser application times; PS+L+ (groups treated with photodynamic therapy). Values followed by different letters are statistically different.

DISCUSSION

Candida albicans is considered the main causative agent of oral candidiasis in humans, especially in HIV-positive patients. Other Candida species may colonize the oral cavity and become pathogenic mainly in immunocompromised conditions. Another concern relateding to such infections stems from the fact that yeasts are growing increasingly resistant to commercial antifungal agents^15-17. In the present study, Candida albicans was found to be the most prevalent species in the three groups tested, which corroborates with the results of Sant'Ana et al.¹⁸ who verified the prevalence of Candida species isolated from AIDS patients and their resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole used in the treatment of oral candidiasis. Candida albicans was identified in 91% of the obtained isolates, and the remaining 9% was identified as other Candida species, with half of them presenting resistance to the drugs tested. Similarly, Costa et al.⁶ found that Candida albicans was the most prevalent species in the oral cavity of HIV-infected patients; however, this was not related to low TCD4 cell counts or high viral replication levels. The presence of pathogenic Candida species other than Candida albicans is associated with worst prognosis of candidiasis because, in normal immunity, these species are not related to infections but are most often recognized as constituents of the natural microbiota¹⁹.

Considering the increasing resistance of microorganisms to antifungal drugs and the high incidence of adverse reactions to therapeutics, which are particularly harmful in immunocompromised patients, it is necessary to develop alternative therapies for oral candidiasis that would also bring more comfort and be more effective in combating proliferation of pathogens. In several studies PDT has emerged as a viable alternative in the inactivation of pathogenic microrganisms^12-13,16-20. Souza et al.²¹ investigated the effectiveness of PDT against Candida albicans in combination with the use of photosensitizing dyes such as methylene blue, toluidine blue, malachite green and isolated low-intensity laser light irradiation. In that report, the authors verified treatment efficacy by monitoring the reduction of yeast CFU/mL compared to colonies that were not subjected to any treatment. The efficacy of PDT was dependent on the energy density of the light used and the combination of laser light with methylene blue was more effective than laser irradiation alone, corroborating the results found in this study, in which PDT was more effective in reducing the CFU/mL count than laser irradiation alone at all the irradiation periods tested. Moreover, the greatest effectiveness was observed at the maximum time tested (e.g., 282 sec.).

Souza et al.²² found that laser irradiation and methylene blue used in isolation were not effective in reducing the growth of yeasts with the exception of the species Candida tropicalis, while their association caused formation of reactive oxygen species such as ¹O₂, which causes disruption to the microbial cell structure. Munin et al.²³ concluded that the combination of laser and methylene blue was effective in reducing the production of Candida albicans germ tube, an essential virulence stage, after culturing these microorganisms in goat serum. Rossoni et al.¹⁶ proved that PDT associated with low power laser and methylene blue was effective to Candida albicans serotype A and B, although the samples from serotype B were more susceptible to PDT. The results of these studies are similar to those found in the analysis of the treatment effectiveness on the Candida spp. samples obtained from the three groups in the present study, where the combination of the photosensitizing dye and laser light association was more effective in reducing the number of CFU/mL with statistically significant differences compared to the control samples that were not subjected to any treatment.

Few studies investigated the efficiency of low power laser irradiation used alone. Basso et al.²⁴ have tested the efficacy of laser in 5 J/cm², 10 J/cm², and 20 J/cm² doses on biofilm formed by Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, or both, showing microorganism inhibition. This can be explained with the fact that laser alone does not generate reactive oxygen species, which destabilize cell membrane by oxidizing its molecules and causing cell death, a property that makes PDT treatment more effective. In this study it was found that laser irradiation alone inactivated microorganisms, but unlike the other treatment groups, in the group of unexposed children, this result was not statistically significant at the irradiation time of 90 sec. However, PDT showed better results even in those groups for which laser irradiation was effective. According to Lavi et al.²⁵, compounds naturally present in the cell membrane may generate free radicals through activation by light, being this one possible explanation for the effectiveness that laser irradiation alone showed in some treatments; however, additional studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

According to Denis et al.²⁶ and Wainwright¹³, despite the natural antimicrobial properties of methylene blue, in order to generate compounds such as ¹O₂ that are capable of destroying the cells to which the treatment is directed, it needs to be energized to an excited state by light at an appropriate wavelength. In children unexposed to HIV, the treatment only with the photosensitizing did not show CFU/mL count reduction, while in the other treatments, PDT proved to be more effective with statistical difference compared to the control group.

Many studies aiming to prove the efficacy of PDT involved animal models. Martins et al.²⁷ evaluated the effects of PDT on the pathogenicity of Candida albicans in the dorsum of the tongue of rats. After candidiasis development, animals were submitted to methylene blue and laser treatments, laser only, methylene blue only and saline only. In animals subjected to PDT, greater lesion reduction as well as the reduction of phospholipases and proteinases from the colonies was found. Similar results were obtained by Junqueira et al.²⁸ who, by microscopic analysis of the tongue of 72 rats subjected to the same conditions, demonstrated lower rates of lesions, as well as lower inflammatory response in animals that had undergone PDT. The results of these studies indicated the potential efficacy of in vivo treatment of lesions caused by microorganisms, following the tendency of all in vitro studies that have also been performed. According to Gonzales et al.¹⁵, fungal cells may be extensively eliminated by PDT using laser doses at rates below those required to cause damage to keratinocytes, indicating that such treatment has a broad therapeutic window.

Another interesting finding was presented in the study performed by Scwingel et al.³, who showed a similar effectiveness of methylene blue, fluconazole, and PDT combined with low power laser in the in vivo treatment of oral candidiasis; only PDT was abel to prevent lesion recurrence, even after 30 days, compared with the conventional therapy using fluconazole. This study also demonstrated the effectiveness of PDT and provides additional information that was not observed in other studies, that is, its ability to inhibit lesion recurrence by Candida spp., thus suggesting a probable residual effect.

These findings proved the effectiveness of PDT as a treatment capable of reducing the damage caused by candidiasis and other infections. The existence of this new therapeutic alternative, associated with good oral hygiene and treatments against HIV, could considerably contribute to improving the quality of life of patients susceptible to opportunistic infections²⁰.

Therefore, we conclude that PDT was effective in inactivating Candida spp. isolated from the oral cavity of children not exposed to HIV, exposed to HIV and HIV-carriers, with the best PDT irradiation time being 282 sec. Furthermore, these results indicate that PDT has potential as an alternative therapy and used alone or as an adjuvant to HIV-positive individuals who have already undergone treatments with antibiotics and antifungals.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Bahia (grant term SUS0039/2009 and APP 0091/2009). We thank the patients and to their caregivers for their collaboration as research participants.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Sept 2016

History

• Received
  25 May 2015
• Reviewed
  28 June 2016
• Accepted
  18 July 2016