vv 001 Citation: Kumari S, Chauhan A, Thaper D, Prabha V (2019) Sperm immobilization factor of Candida albicans: A proposed mechanism of infertility in female mice. Glob J Fertil Res 5(1): 001-006. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/gjfr.000014 https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/gjfr DOI: 2640-7884 ISSN: MEDICAL GROUP Introduction Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus, is usually encountered as a normal inhabitant of human mucosal surfaces [1]. Apart from being residing as a harmless commensal as a normal microbiota, it also has the notoriety of being implicated in superficial (oral and vaginal) and systemic candidiasis, giving rise to severe morbidity in millions of individuals worldwide. This transformation from normal harmless commensal to dangerous pathogen is due to slight alteration in the physiological state of the host (long term antibiotic treatment and compromised local immune/barrier defence) [2]. C. albicans possesses various virulence attributes that contribute to general survival, fitness and persistence within the host cell as well as specific factors associated with adhesion, invasion, cell damage and induction/evasion of host response (Calderone and Fonzi) [3]. Adhesion is one of the essential step for colonization and establishment of Candida infections in the host cell and it is accomplished by various adhesins [4]. Following this invasion fungal hydrolases drive the active penetration of fungus into the host cells [5]. Another important feature of C. albicans is its ability to form biofilm and phenotypic switching, one of the important virulence determinants which play an important role in its pathogenesis [6]. Along with the infection C. albicans has also been associated with sperm impairing property [7- 9]. The sperm impairment is not only due to the culture, but the soluble factors of fungal metabolism (SFFM) as well as its quorum sensing molecule, farnesol which directly affect human sperm parameters [9]. In an earlier work done in our laboratory, infertility as a consequence of intravaginal inoculation with sperm impairing S. aureus, E. coli, S. marcescens and their corresponding factors has been observed [10-12]. Apart from bacterial strains, the fungus strain, C. albicans also resulted in loss of fertility in female mice. Except infertility, no other clinical manifestation could be seen apparently or histologically. Therefore, the mechanism for infertility was conjectured to be the sperm immobilization property of C. albicans [12]. Hence, the present study was intended with an Abstract Candida species are the most frequently isolated fungi, responsible for blood stream and urinary tract infections. Various studies have shown Candida albicans to be associated with impediment of sperm parameters. Therefore to determine the underlying mechanism, the standard strain of Candida albicans (MTCC 1637) was employed and it was found to cause complete immobilization of mouse spermatozoa in vitro. Further, sperm immobilization activity was shown by only cell-free supernatant, indicating that the sperm immobilization factor might be released extracellularly, as no activity was observed with the washed cells. The sperm immobilization factor (SIF) from supernatant was precipitated out with ammonium sulphate at the saturation of 60% to 80% and was purified by gel permeation chromatography followed by ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of SIF was found to be ~29 kDa. Further, SIF at a concentration of 50μg was capable of causing 100% immobilization of mouse spermatozoa within 30min of incubation at 37 0 C, whereas at 100μg concentration resulted in complete loss of viability. Scanning electron microscopy showed profound morphological alterations with decapitation in mouse spermatozoa after the treatment with SIF. Also, total loss of Mg 2+ ATPase activity of mouse spermatozoa was observed at a concentration of 75 and 100μg/ml. Further, in vivo study revealed that the intravaginal application of SIF (10μg) before mating completely avert conception in female mice as no pregnancy related changes were observed in comparison to female mice receiving PBS. Research Article Sperm immobilization factor of Candida albicans: A proposed mechanism of infertility in female mice Sareeka Kumari, Aditi Chauhan, Deepali Thaper and Vijay Prabha* Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India Received: 16 December, 2019 Accepted: 26 February, 2020 Published: 27 February, 2020 *Corresponding author: Vijay Prabha, Professor, Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chan- digarh-160014, India,Tel: 91-172-2534140; Fax: 91-172- 2541770, E-mail: https://www.peertechz.com