Exploratory analysis of biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in Acinetobacter baumannii-Candida albicans co-cultured isolates from urinary tract infections
Abstract
Polymicrobial infections with Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) are increasingly frequent in urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, experimental data describing their interactions in clinical isolates under co-culture conditions remain limited. In this study, three clinical isolates of both A. baumannii and C. albicans were co-isolated from urine samples with UTIs, then mono-cultured and co-cultured at 24, 48, and 72 h for biofilm quantification by crystal violet assay. The expression levels of bacterial (ompA, bap, abaI) and fungal (ALS3, HWP1, ERG11) virulence genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR at 24 and 48 h. Co-culture conditions resulted in increased biofilm biomass compared to monoculture for the tested isolates. In A. baumannii, the virulence genes of bap, abaI, and ompA showed statistically significant increase in expression in co-culture compared to mono-culture after 24 h. In C. albicans, HWP1 is the only virulence gene that shows a statistically significant increase in expression in co-culture compared to monoculture after 48 h. Gene expression patterns varied in patient isolates, suggesting strain heterogeneity. This is an exploratory study that provides evidence of changes in biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in co-culture conditions among clinical isolates of A. baumannii and C. albicans. These findings suggest potential for microbial interactions under polymicrobial conditions, which might affect the…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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