Isolation and molecular identification of Candida albicans yeast from women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and correlation with MBL-2 gene polymorphism

The abnormal growth of Candida albicans, resulting from the imbalance between yeast and bacteria that exists in the mucous membrane of the female reproductive system, leads to the infection with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidosis (RVVC). Eighty samples of blood and vaginal swabs were collected from 60 women with RVVC and 20 healthy women. C. albicans isolates were identified morphologically and by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology. Also, Tetra-primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System- Polymerase Chain Reaction (Tetra-ARMS-PCR) technique was used to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism of MBL-2 gene in the women blood samples using 4 primers. Results indicate that all women who suffered from RVVC were infected with C. albicans and that there is a relationship between the subjects who suffer from RVVC and the genetic variation of MBL-2. The results indicate that there are 3 genotypes: normal homozygous CC, hyterozygous CT, and mutant homozygous TT. Additionally, the natural allele repetition C had a value of 71% compared to the mutant allele T, which was 29%, while the Odds Ratio (OR) of the mutant allele was 1.18, which is considered as a serious factor of the case complication. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Test showed that there is a variation within the recorded and expected genetic patterns and this is due to the effect of factors like antibiotics (Tetracyclines, Quinolones, Broad-spectrum penicillins), pregnancy and hormonal changes, uncontrolled diabetes, impaired immune system.