THE EFFECT OF SODIUM-HYPOCHLORITE ON POTENTIAL PATHOGENIC TRAITS OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS AND OTHER CANDIDA SPECIES

Strains of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, candida kefyr, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida guilliermondii were grown in the presence or absence of concentrations of sodium hypochlorite below the minimal inhibitory concentration and tested for a range of characteristics that may be associated with pathogenicity. Sodium hypochlorite is used routinely in hospitals in Australia for disinfection procedures, and these experiments were designed to assess the efficacy of hypochlorite as a sterilizing agent for acrylic dentures. Candida showed varying abilities to adhere to surfaces that may be present in the oral cavity. Sodium hypochlorite reduced the adhesion of all C. albicans strains and most other Candida species to both polystyrene and buccal epithelial cells. A biofilm of Streptococcus gordonii reduced the adhesion of most C. albicans strains and most other Candida species to polystyrene. However, Candida species were able to coaggregate with S. gordonii in suspension, with one strain of C. albicans, GDH 2346, showing greater coaggregation ability than the other strains or species. Sodium hypochlorite increased coaggregation of all C. albicans strains and most other Candida species. Examination of cell wall proteins from strains of C. albicans and a strain of C. parapsilosis showed that growth in hypochlorite increased the amount of protein in some existing bands and, in one strain of C. albicans, increased the number of detectable protein bands ranging from 56 to 26 kDa. Only 4 strains of C. albicans were able to produce hyphae, and 3 of these same strains and C. parapsilosis were able to produce proteinase. Hypochlorite increased the rate of blastospore to hyphal transition but had no effect on proteinase production or activity. It is concluded that hypochlorite at a concentration below the minimal inhibitory concentration may function as an anti-adhesin for Candida species but may not affect their more pathogenic characteristics.