RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Brilhante, Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira A1 Sales, Jamille Alencar A1 da Silva, Maria Lucilene Queiroz A1 de Oliveira, Jonathas Sales A1 Pereira, Lucas de Alencar A1 Pereira-Neto, Waldemiro Aquino A1 Cordeiro, Rossana de Aguiar A1 Sidrim, José Júlio Costa A1 Castelo-Branco, Débora de Souza Collares Maia A1 Rocha, Marcos Fábio GadelhaYR 2018 T1 Antifungal susceptibility and virulence of Candida parapsilosis species complex: an overview of their pathogenic potential JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 67 IS 7 SP 903 OP 914 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000756 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Purpose. Antifungal resistance and several putative virulence factors have been associated with the pathogenicity of the Candida parapsilosis species complex. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility, the production of virulence factors and the pathogenicity of the C. parapsilosis complex. Methodology. Overall, 49 isolates of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 19 C. orthopsilosis and nine C. metapsilosis were used. The planktonic and biofilm susceptibility to fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin was assessed using a broth microdilution assay. Finally, the production of biofilm and hydrolytic enzymes and the fungal pathogenicity against Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. Results/Key findings. Overall, one C. orthopsilosis was resistant to caspofungin and susceptible-dose-dependent to itraconazole, the other two C. orthopsilosis were susceptible-dose-dependent to fluconazole and itraconazole, and one C. metapsilosis was susceptible-dose-dependent to azoles. A total of 67.5 % of the isolates were biofilm producers. Amphotericin B and caspofungin caused the greatest reduction in the metabolic activity and biomass of mature biofilms. Phospholipase and protease production was observed in 55.1 % of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 42.1 % of C. orthopsilosis and 33.3 % of C. metapsilosis isolates. Moreover, 57.9 % of C. orthopsilosis and 20.4 % of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates were β-haemolytic, and all C. metapsilosis were α-haemolytic. Finally, the C. parapsilosis complex caused high mortality of C. elegans after 96 h of exposure. Conclusion. These results reinforce the heterogeneity of these cryptic species for their antifungal susceptibility, virulence and pathogenic potential, emphasizing the relevance of monitoring these emerging pathogens., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000756