Scholarlink

Microbial pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, utilize various genetic strategies to invade host tissues and cause infections. One of these strategies is the secretion of phospholipases, a class of enzymes that degrade phospholipid components of host cell membranes, destroying their structural integrity and facilitating tissue invasion (Ghannoum, Clin Microbiol Rev 13:122–143, 2000). It is known that pathogenic fungi such as Candida sp./Cryptococcus sp. secrete phospholipases that play a crucial role in their virulence and ability to evade host immune responses. These enzymes hydrolyze phospholipids, leading to the formation of bioactive metabolites that can damage host cells and tissues. Phospholipase activity is particularly associated with fungal pathogenesis. It contributes to the ability of these organisms to colonize and infect various human tissues, including mucous membranes, skin and internal organs (Djordjevic, Front Microbiol 1:125, 2010). The principle of detecting phospholipase activity in fungi is based on the hydrolysis of phospholipids in egg yolk agar. Egg yolk agar is rich in phospholipids, which, when degraded by phospholipases, form clear zones or halos around the fungal colonies (Sharaf et al, J Taibah Univ Sci 8:207–215, 2014). This clear zone indicates phospholipase activity and is measured as the phospholipase production zone (Pz). The diameter of this zone correlates with the degree of enzyme activity and provides a reliable method for assessing the pathogenic potential of fungi (Jain et al, Int J Med Sci Public Health 1, 2017). The degradation of lecithin forms a clear zone, an important phospholipid in egg yolk, which gets hydrolyzed to insoluble products that precipitate and leave a transparent area around the fungal growth. This chapter describes a detailed protocol for the determination of phospholipase activity in fungal isolates on egg yolk agar. The method described can be applied to various fungal species and helps researchers investigate phospholipases’ role in fungal virulence, invasion, and infection.

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Phospholipase Assay for the Detection of Virulence of Pathogenic Fungi

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

查看全文
  • Ritu Pasrija,
  • Deepika Kumari

摘要

Microbial pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, utilize various genetic strategies to invade host tissues and cause infections. One of these strategies is the secretion of phospholipases, a class of enzymes that degrade phospholipid components of host cell membranes, destroying their structural integrity and facilitating tissue invasion (Ghannoum, Clin Microbiol Rev 13:122–143, 2000). It is known that pathogenic fungi such as Candida sp./Cryptococcus sp. secrete phospholipases that play a crucial role in their virulence and ability to evade host immune responses. These enzymes hydrolyze phospholipids, leading to the formation of bioactive metabolites that can damage host cells and tissues. Phospholipase activity is particularly associated with fungal pathogenesis. It contributes to the ability of these organisms to colonize and infect various human tissues, including mucous membranes, skin and internal organs (Djordjevic, Front Microbiol 1:125, 2010). The principle of detecting phospholipase activity in fungi is based on the hydrolysis of phospholipids in egg yolk agar. Egg yolk agar is rich in phospholipids, which, when degraded by phospholipases, form clear zones or halos around the fungal colonies (Sharaf et al, J Taibah Univ Sci 8:207–215, 2014). This clear zone indicates phospholipase activity and is measured as the phospholipase production zone (Pz). The diameter of this zone correlates with the degree of enzyme activity and provides a reliable method for assessing the pathogenic potential of fungi (Jain et al, Int J Med Sci Public Health 1, 2017). The degradation of lecithin forms a clear zone, an important phospholipid in egg yolk, which gets hydrolyzed to insoluble products that precipitate and leave a transparent area around the fungal growth. This chapter describes a detailed protocol for the determination of phospholipase activity in fungal isolates on egg yolk agar. The method described can be applied to various fungal species and helps researchers investigate phospholipases’ role in fungal virulence, invasion, and infection.