ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyse polar lipids of Candida species isolated from Ahwaz [Iran] by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry [FAB MS]. Nine isolates of Candida Sp. were identified by growth at 45°C, production of chlamydoconidia on cornmeal agar, colonial colour on CHROMagar Candida, germ tube production and ID 32C kits. Then polar lipids were extracted from freeze-dried cultures and analysed using FAB MS. The most intense carboxylate and phospholipid molecular species anions were of m/z 281 C[18:1] and m/z 515 [PA 23:2]. However, the most intense carboxylate and phospholipid analogues in Candida parapsilosis were 292 [Un] and 555 [PA 26:3], which differed from other yeasts. Isolates were grouped by single linkage clustering based on correlation coefficient for strain pairs calculated with carboxylate and phospholipid molecular species distributions. FAB MS can differentiate the C. albicans based on analysis of polar lipid distributions. These findings support that differentiation between C. albicans and other species is possible based on polar lipids