In vitro lytic activity and antifungal susceptibility of infrequently isolated yeasts

Non-albicans Candida species have acquired relevance in the last decades as a cause of serious disease. The virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility of these rare pathogens remain largely unrecognized. We examined a total of 50 yeast isolates corresponding to 11 different infrequently isolated yeast species for their in vitro enzymatic profile and susceptibility pattern as first-line antifungals. We found aspartyl protease activity for 100% of the isolates tested as well as variable DNAse, hemolysin, phospholipase and esterase activities. All strains had low MICs for amphotericin B and showed a variable response to fluconazole (0.125-32 mu g/mL) and the echinocandins tested (0.25-> 8 mu g/mL).