Investigation of Mutations of ERG11 Gene in Fluconazole Resistant Strains of Candida Albicans Isolated From Patients With Volvovaginitis in West of Mazandaran

Background and Aims: Candida albicans as an opportunistic fungal pathogen in human is the cause of volvovaginitis candidiasis. Azole resistance is cinsiderable as worldwide problem in treatment of candidiasis. Azole resistance can occur through different mechanisms such as mutation in ERG11 gene. The aim of our study was evaluation of ERG11 gene mutations in fluconazole resistant islotes of C. albicans obtained from patients with volvovaginitis in west of Mazandaran. Materials and Methods: In this study, clinical specimens were obtained from vaginal mucosa of 120 individual. C. albicans isolates were identified by standard methods such as germ tubes and culture in chrome agar media. Susceptibility test to fluconazole in the isolates was evaluated by Disc diffusion and MIC methods. After DNA extraction, ERG11 gene mutations in clinical isolates were determined by PCR- sequencing method. Results: From 45 isolates of C. albicans, 40 isolates were resistant to fluconazole. The MIC of fluconazole in isolates was determined between 2 to 64μg/ml. Also, sequencing analysis showed that 7 fluconazole resistant isolates had three missense mutations (D116E, K128T and A114S) in ERG11 gene.  Conclusion: It apears that high frequency of floconazol resistance is the results of different reasons such as mutations in ERG11 gene in C. albicans isolates.