Candida tropicalis is a species of yeast in the genus Candida. It is a common pathogen in neutropenic hosts, in whom it may spread through the bloodstream to peripheral organs. For invasive disease, treatments include amphotericin B, echinocandins, or extended-spectrum triazole antifungals.
History and taxonomy In the history of fungi, the name of genus Candida, derived from the family Debaryomycetaceae, comes from the Latin term "" which has the meaning of “glowing white” and also refers to as smooth and glistening. Genus Candida referred to any asexual yeast without any of the following characteristics: production of acetic acid, pigments of colours red, pink or orange, arthroconidia, unipolar or bipolar budding, enteroblastic-basipetal budding, blastoconidia formation on sympodulae, buds formation on stalks, triangular cells, needle-shaped terminal conidia, and having the ability to grow on inositol as a sole carbon source. Although there are 200 species identified in this genus, the taxonomy remains undefined and incomplete due to several reasons such as changing the words for some representations, the finding of new species and the reclassification of identified old species. This genus no longer includes species that test positive to diazonium blue B (DBB). The defunct genera Oidium and Monilia were used to represent the genus Candida.
In the genus Candida, there are other species that are similar to Candida tropicalis. Candida albicans is taxonomically close to C. tropicalis sharing many pathogenic traits whereas C. maltosa and C. sake are physiologically similar to C. tropicalis but they can be differentiated by the growth at 35 °C (only C. sake showing negative) and assimilation of soluble starch (only C. tropicalis showing positive starch assimilation).
Identification C. tropicalis is easily identified using phenotypic and molecular methods. The identification of species in the genus Candida relies on morphological and physiological features. Species in the genus are vegetative cells which reproduce asexually by budding, and the structure, shape, septation, color and arrangement of buds is useful for identification. The production and appearance of pseudohyphae and blastoconidia may also be useful for identification. Physiological profiles relating to carbon and nitrogen utilization are of value in determining species, as are the presence certain distinctive biochemical features. Increasingly, molecular genetic methods such as DNA sequencing are used as primary tools for the accurate determination of species identifications in this group. C. tropicalis is positive for the germ tube test. Germ tube test allows for distinguishing between C. tropicalis and C. albicans or C. dubliniensis. A short hyphal extension seen laterally from a yeast cell with no constriction at the point of origin is identified as C. albicans or C. dubliniensis, whereas C. tropicalis shows blastoconidial germination with constriction. However, some C. tropicalis isolates may produce pseudo-germ tubes after 3 hours of incubation but they show constriction at the point of origin
Growth and morphology C. tropicalis is a vegetative cell with the shape from round to oval ranging from approximately 2 – 10 micrometers. A mould exhibits dimorphism forming a single-celled yeast or so-called blastoconidia which reproduces by simple budding. Conidia are the asexual units that are produced by budding of the tips or walls of the hyphae. Conidia are types of simple and unicellular bodies that could also take the form of multicellular cells with different shapes, sizes, and colors. Microconidia refer to small and unicellular conidia whereas macroconidia refer to large and multicellular conidia. There are different media on which C. tropicalis can grow effectively. A common medium used is the Sabouraud’s agar which contains peptone and sugar. This is enough for identifying the species but with a disadvantage of promoting mycelial growth and suppressing conidia formation. Another commonly used medium is the cornmeal agar which is useful in inducing formation of conidia. Potato-glucose, potato-carrot, tomato juice, lima bean and others are also types of media used for growth. The optimal temperature for growth is between and growth is enhanced if sugar or fat is added in the medium. Colonies of C. tropicalis are white, smooth and butyrous with a fringed border.
Physiology C. tropicalis reproduces asexually by the production of blastoconidia through budding. As blastoconidia increase in number they may elongate in shape producing structures called the pseudohyphae. Under specific conditions of reduced oxygen level in host tissues, submerged colonies in agar medium, or in the presence of 5-10% CO2, true, septate hyphae may form.
Physiological characteristics of C. tropicalis Growth Positive for C1 D-glucose, C2 D-glucose, C6 D-xylose, C11 Maltose, C12 α,α-trehalose, C22 Starch, C28 D-glucitol, C29 D-mannitol, C32 D-glucono-1,5-lactone, C33 2-keto-d-gluconate, C34 5-keto-d-gluconate, C39 succinate, C42 ethanol, N3 ethylamine, N4 L-lysine, N4 cadaverine, V2 without myo-inositol, V3 without pantothenate, V5 without thiamine, V7 without pyridoxine, V9 without niacin, V10 without PABA, O1 0.01% cycloheximide, O2 0.1% cycloheximide. Positive temperatures from .
Fermentation positive for F1 D-glucose, F2 D-glucose, F3 Maltose positive delay after 7 days for F6 α,α-trehalose. negative for F7 Melibiose, F8 Lactose, F9 Cellobiose, F11 Raffinose, F12 Inulin, F14 D-xylose. negative delay after 7 days for F4 Me-α-D-glucoside, F10 Melezitose. positive and negative for F5 Sucrose and F13 Starch.
Urea hydrolysis This test is to detect yeast’s ability to produce enzyme urease. Hydrolysis of urea in Christensen’s Urea Agar produces ammonia and carbon dioxide. Ammonia alkalinizes the medium, and the pH shift is detected by the colour change of phenol red in the medium from light orange at pH 6.8 to pink at pH 8.1. C. tropicalis is found to be urease negative.
Diazonium Blue B Test This test uses the azo dye, diazonium blue B which differentially stains cells from species affiliated with the Division, Basidiomycota. For C. tropicalis, this test is negative.
Parasexuality
C. tropicalis diploid cells of opposite mating type can mate to form tetraploid cells.Porman AM, Alby K, Hirakawa MP, Bennett RJ. Discovery of a phenotypic switch regulating sexual mating in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2011 Dec 27;108(52):21158-63. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1112076109. These cells may then undergo chromosome loss during long-term propagation in rich medium resulting in the eventual regeneration of diploid cells.Seervai RN, Jones SK Jr, Hirakawa MP, Porman AM, Bennett RJ. Parasexuality and ploidy change in Candida tropicalis. Eukaryot Cell. 2013 Dec;12(12):1629-40. doi: 10.1128/EC.00128-13. PMID 24123269 Such diploid cells are again mating competent thus completing a parasexual cycle. Opaque C. tropicalis cells can also form an architecturally complex sexual biofilm.Jones SK Jr, Hirakawa MP, Bennett RJ. Sexual biofilm formation in Candida tropicalis opaque cells. Mol Microbiol. 2014 Apr;92(2):383-98. doi: 10.1111/mmi.12565. PMID 24612417
Habitat and ecology Candida species are very pervasive yeasts that are distributed worldwide geographically. They are more likely to be found in tropical climate where temperature and humidity will enhance the adaptability of C. tropicalis. They can be found in food such as sauerkraut, molasses, miso, fruit, baker’s yeast and some fruits. They are commonly found on plants and in the digestive system of mammals, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, and in the mucocutaneous membranes of humans. C. tropicalis is considered as an osmotolerant yeast; microorganisms that are able to survive in high salt concentration and able to develop fungal persistence in saline environments. A strain found in oil-contaminated soil in Taiwan in 1989 is able to oxidize dodecane into dodecanedioic acid.
Storage and transportation The selection of medium for sample growth is very important accounting for the pros and cons of each type of growth medium. Once decided on the medium, need to add 8 ug of fluconazole per mL to limit bacterial growth and contamination. When the medium is ready, it is optional to add supplement to help and optimize specimen growth. After the growth, features examination including shape, size, bud arrangement, cell wall thickness, temperature of growth, pseudohyphae presence, arthroconidia presence, and capsule presence are all important to take into account. If the species are grown using any type of the medium mentioned, the transportation of specimens for testing should be completed in less than two hours. If there is any delay, the samples should be stored at 37 °C with the exception of contaminated specimens that need be stored in 4 °C.
Pathogenicity In tropical countries, C. tropicalis is one of the most common colonizer and pathogen causing human disease, especially found on human skin, in the gastrointestinal tract and also in female genitourinary tract. It can be transmitted between health-care workers and patients, especially in environments such as hospitals. C. tropicalis can survive for up to 24 hours therefore be cross-transmitted to a second hand with a probability of 69% and to a third hand with 38% probability. It is the cause responsible for approximately half of the beyond-surface candida infections. C. tropicalis is the second most virulent Candida species that can significantly affect by spreading through the weakened immune system host and can occupy the gastrointestinal tract within 30 minutes of inoculation, all this resulting in increased mortality. Impact of candidiasis, infections cause by C. tropicalis, have increased globally. C. tropicalis is virulent due to its ability to produce biofilm, secrete lytic enzymes, adhere to epithelial and endothelial cells, and undergo transition of bud to hyphae.
Biofilms are complex structures that are formed from the grouping of microorganisms on a local surface, either biotic or abiotic, dependent on the ability of cellular adhesion to substrates. For C. tropicalis to fully enter and cause infection in the host, it needs some helpers. First, once it is attached onto the host tissues, extracellular enzymes called the proteases will be produced to facilitate the penetration of the pathogen and allow it to interfere with the host defense system. proteases will hydrolyze peptide bonds; secreted aspartic proteases (SAP) support C. tropicalis to be attached and penetrate deep into the tissues to affect the organs. phospholipases will hydrolyze phospholipid; assist to break the epithelial cell membrane structure allowing the hyphal tip to enter into the cytoplasm. Many conditions that contribute to C. tropicalis survival and colonization are: a) increase the use of antifungal regimen, b) increased number of immunocompromised patients, c) long-term use of catheters, and d) use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although different tests are able to use for identification of species, each of the tests will have different limitations such as sensitivity, specificity, cost and equipment availability.
Human diseases