Critical factors affecting the adherence of Candida albicans to the vaginal epithelium

A clinical isolate (Candida albicans) was collected from diagnosed cases as vaginal candidiasis. Identification of this isolate was previously reported [11] using both API 20C kit and real-time PCR assay. Adherence of C. albicans to the vaginal epithelium was evaluated. C. albicans recorded the highest rate (63.00%) of adherence among all collected isolates and recorded the highest record for the number (131.00) of adhered yeast cells (data not shown). The evaluation of the critical factors affecting the adherence process revealed that the maximum adherence values were recorded for a logarithmic phase-culture grown at 25 °C, incubation temperature of 37 °C in phosphate buffer saline adjusted at pH 5. Moreover, the adherence pattern of C. albicans cells to the vaginal epithelium was visualized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM).