Proceedings of International Conference on Applied Innovation in IT  ·  2026/03/31  ·  Vol. 14  ·  Issue 1  ·  pp. 955–964
In Silico and Experimental Evaluation of Beta Glucan Effect on SAP5 Gene Expression in Candida Albicans
Ghufran M. Shugaa and Abbas M. Ammari
📄 Download PDF DOI: 10.25673/123658
Abstract
Candida albicans is a major opportunistic fungal pathogen, and its secreted SAP family genes contribute significantly to virulence, tissue invasion, and immune evasion. Among these, SAP5 is rapidly induced during infection and is closely associated with pathogenicity. Resistance to traditional antifungals such as azoles and polyenes is increasing, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic agents. β-glucan polysaccharides, present in fungal and plant cell walls, exhibit immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties; however, their effects on C. albicans virulence gene expression remain insufficiently investigated. In this study, 100 breast mastitis swabs were collected from female patients, yielding 25 Candida isolates, including 13 identified as C. albicans. Antifungal susceptibility was tested against nystatin, fluconazole, itraconazole, and clotrimazole. β-glucan was extracted from oats, purified, and applied at serial concentrations to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the presence of the SAP5 gene, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to assess SAP5 gene expression following treatment with β-glucan. Among the 13 C. albicans isolates, the highest resistance rate was to nystatin (61.5%), followed by fluconazole (53.8%), itraconazole (46.1%), and the lowest to clotrimazole (38.4%). Both fully resistant and fully susceptible isolates accounted for 30.8% of the total, while the remainder exhibited intermediate resistance. Oat β-glucan demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on C. albicans growth, with MIC values varying among isolates. qPCR analysis revealed a significant 2.8 ± 0.4-fold decrease in SAP5 gene expression at 400 µg/ml β-glucan (p < 0.001, Student’s t-test). Oat-derived β-glucan exhibits antifungal activity against C. albicans and suppresses SAP5 expression, suggesting both direct inhibition and modulation of virulence. These results support its potential as a complementary antifungal agent amid increasing drug resistance.
Keywords
Candida Albicans Sap5 Β-Glucan; Oat Antifungal Resistance Qpcr.
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