scholarly journals Multi-resistance to non-azole fungicides in Aspergillus fumigatus TR 34 /L98H azole resistant isolates.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Gonzalez-Jimenez ◽  
R Garcia-Rubio ◽  
S Monzon ◽  
J Lucio ◽  
I Cuesta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Evolution Pattern ◽  
Environmental Setting ◽  
Resistant Strains

Drug resistance is a worldwide problem affecting all pathogens. The human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus coexists in the environment with other fungi targeted by crop protection compounds being unintentionally exposed to the selective pressure of multiple antifungal classes leading to the selection of resistant strains. A. fumigatus azole resistant isolates are emerging in both the clinical and environmental setting. Since their approval, azole drugs have dominated the clinical treatment for aspergillosis infections, and the agriculture fungicide market. However, other antifungal classes are used for crop protection including benzimidazoles (MBC), strobilurins (QoIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs). Mutations responsible for resistance to these fungicides have been widely researched in plant pathogens, but it has not been explored in A. fumigatus . In this work, the genetic basis underlying resistance to MBCs, QoIs and SDHIs were studied in azole susceptible and resistant A. fumigatus strains. E198A/Q and F200Y mutations in the β-tubulin conferred resistance to MBCs, G143A and F129L substitutions in the Cytochrome b to QoIs and H270R/Y mutations in SdhB to SDHIs. Characterization of the susceptibility to azoles showed a correlation between strains resistant to these fungicides and the ones with TR-based azole resistance mechanisms. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed a genetic relationship among fungicide multi resistant strains, which grouped together into subclusters that only included strains carrying the TR-based azole resistance mechanisms, indicating a common ancestor/evolution pattern and confirming the environmental origin of this type of azole resistant A. fumigatus .

scholarly journals Epidemiology and Molecular Characterizations of Azole Resistance in Clinical and Environmental Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from China

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 5878-5884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Chen ◽  
Zhongyi Lu ◽  
Jingjun Zhao ◽  
Ziying Zou ◽  
Yanwen Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Common Mutation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Resistance ◽  
Resistant Strains

ABSTRACTAzole resistance inAspergillus fumigatushas emerged as a worldwide public health problem. We sought here to demonstrate the occurrence and characteristics of azole resistance inA. fumigatusfrom different parts of China. A total of 317 clinical and 144 environmentalA. fumigatusisolates from 12 provinces were collected and subjected to screening for azole resistance. Antifungal susceptibility,cyp51Agene sequencing, and genotyping were carried out for all suspected azole-resistant isolates and a subset of azole-susceptible isolates. As a result, 8 (2.5%) clinical and 2 (1.4%) environmentalA. fumigatusisolates were identified as azole resistant. Five azole-resistant strains exhibit the TR34/L98H mutation, whereas four carry the TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I mutation in thecyp51Agene. Genetic typing and phylogenetic analysis showed that there was a worldwide clonal expansion of the TR34/L98H isolates, while the TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I isolates from China harbored a distinct genetic background with resistant isolates from other countries. High polymorphisms existed in thecyp51Agene that produced amino acid changes among azole-susceptibleA. fumigatusisolates, with N248K being the most common mutation. These data suggest that the wide distribution of azole-resistantA. fumigatusmight be attributed to the environmental resistance mechanisms in China.

scholarly journals Nonrandom Distribution of Azole Resistance across the Global Population of Aspergillus fumigatus

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Sewell ◽  
Jianing Zhu ◽  
Johanna Rhodes ◽  
Ferry Hagen ◽  
Jacques F. Meis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Population

ABSTRACT The emergence of azole resistance in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus has continued to increase, with the dominant resistance mechanisms, consisting of a 34-nucleotide tandem repeat (TR34)/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A, now showing a structured global distribution. Using hierarchical clustering and multivariate analysis of 4,049 A. fumigatus isolates collected worldwide and genotyped at nine microsatellite loci using analysis of short tandem repeats of A. fumigatus (STRAf), we show that A. fumigatus can be subdivided into two broad clades and that cyp51A alleles TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A are unevenly distributed across these two populations. Diversity indices show that azole-resistant isolates are genetically depauperate compared to their wild-type counterparts, compatible with selective sweeps accompanying the selection of beneficial mutations. Strikingly, we found that azole-resistant clones with identical microsatellite profiles were globally distributed and sourced from both clinical and environmental locations, confirming that azole resistance is an international public health concern. Our work provides a framework for the analysis of A. fumigatus isolates based on their microsatellite profile, which we have incorporated into a freely available, user-friendly R Shiny application (AfumID) that provides clinicians and researchers with a method for the fast, automated characterization of A. fumigatus genetic relatedness. Our study highlights the effect that azole drug resistance is having on the genetic diversity of A. fumigatus and emphasizes its global importance upon this medically important pathogenic fungus. IMPORTANCE Azole drug resistance in the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus continues to emerge, potentially leading to untreatable aspergillosis in immunosuppressed hosts. Two dominant, environmentally associated resistance mechanisms, which are thought to have evolved through selection by the agricultural application of azole fungicides, are now distributed globally. Understanding the effect that azole resistance is having on the genetic diversity and global population of A. fumigatus will help mitigate drug-resistant aspergillosis and maintain the azole class of fungicides for future use in both medicine and crop protection.

scholarly journals Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus cross-resistance between clinical and DMI azole drugs

2020 ◽  
pp. AEM.02539-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio Garcia-Rubio ◽  
Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez ◽  
Jose Lucio ◽  
Emilia Mellado
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Azole Resistance

Drug resistance poses a serious threat to human health and agricultural production. Azole drugs are the largest group of 14-α sterol demethylation inhibitor fungicides that are used both in agriculture and in clinical practice. As plant pathogenic molds share their natural environment with fungi that cause opportunistic infections in humans, both are exposed to a strong and persistent pressure of demethylase inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, including imidazole and triazole drugs. As a result, a loss of efficacy has occurred for this drug class in several species. In the clinical setting, Aspergillus fumigatus azole resistance is a growing public health problem and finding the source of this resistance has gained much attention. It is urgent to determine if there is a direct link between the agricultural use of azole compounds and the different A. fumigatus resistance mechanisms described for clinical triazoles. In this work we have performed A. fumigatus susceptibility testing to clinical triazoles and crop protection DMIs using a collection of azole susceptible and resistant strains which harbor most of the described azole resistance mechanisms. Various DMI susceptibility profiles have been found in the different A. fumigatus populations groups based on their azole resistance mechanism and previous WGS analysis, which suggests that the different resistance mechanisms have different origins and are specifically associated to the local use of a particular DMI.Importance Due to the worldwide emergence of A. fumigatus azole resistance, this opportunistic pathogen poses a serious health threat and, therefore, it has been included in the Watch List of the CDC 2019 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report. Azoles play a critical role in the control and management of fungal diseases, not only in the clinical setting but also in agriculture. Thus, azole resistance leads to a limited therapeutic arsenal which reduces the treatment options for aspergillosis patients, increasing their mortality risk. Evidence is needed to understand whether A. fumigatus azole resistance is emerging from an agricultural source due to the extended use of demethylase inhibitors as fungicides, or whether it is coming from somewhere else such as the clinical setting. If the environmental route is demonstrated, the current use and management of azole antifungal compounds might be forced to change in the forthcoming years.

scholarly journals Hospital Environment as a Source of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Strains with TR34/L98H and G448S Cyp51A Mutations

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez ◽  
Jose Lucio ◽  
Maria Dolores Menéndez-Fraga ◽  
Emilia Mellado ◽  
Teresa Peláez
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
High Resistance ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Therapy Failure ◽  
Naive Patient ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Effective Analysis

Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging worldwide problem with increasing reports of therapy failure cases produced by resistant isolates. A case of azole-resistant A. fumigatus hospital colonization in a patient is reported here. Investigations of the hospital environment led to the recovery of A. fumigatus strains harboring the TR34/L98H and the G448S Cyp51A azole resistance mechanisms. Isolate genotyping showed that one strain from the environment was isogenic with the patient strains. These are the first environmental A. fumigatus azole resistant strains collected in a hospital in Spain; it supports the idea of the hospital environment as a source of dissemination and colonization/infection by azole resistant A. fumigatus in patients. The isolation of an azole-resistant strain from an azole-naïve patient is an interesting finding, suggesting that an effective analysis of clinical and environmental sources must be done to detect azole resistance in A. fumigatus. The emergence and spread of these resistance mechanisms in A. fumigatus is of major concern because it confers high resistance to voriconazole and is associated with treatment failure in patients with invasive aspergillosis.

scholarly journals Are Point Mutations in HMG-CoA Reductases (Hmg1 and Hmg2) a Step towards Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus?

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5975
Author(s):  
Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez ◽  
Jose Lucio ◽  
Alejandra Roldan ◽  
Laura Alcazar-Fuoli ◽  
Emilia Mellado
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Ergosterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Resistant Strains

Invasive aspergillosis, mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, can lead to severe clinical outcomes in immunocompromised individuals. Antifungal treatment, based on the use of azoles, is crucial to increase survival rates. However, the recent emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates is affecting the efficacy of the clinical therapy and lowering the success rate of azole strategies against aspergillosis. Azole resistance mechanisms described to date are mainly associated with mutations in the azole target gene cyp51A that entail structural changes in Cyp51A or overexpression of the gene. However, strains lacking cyp51A modifications but resistant to clinical azoles have recently been detected. Some genes have been proposed as new players in azole resistance. In this study, the gene hmg1, recently related to azole resistance, and its paralogue hmg2 were studied in a collection of fifteen azole-resistant strains without cyp51A modifications. Both genes encode HMG-CoA reductases and are involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis. Several mutations located in the sterol sensing domain (SSD) of Hmg1 (D242Y, G307D/S, P309L, K319Q, Y368H, F390L and I412T) and Hmg2 (I235S, V303A, I312S, I360F and V397C) were detected. The role of these mutations in conferring azole resistance is discussed in this work.

scholarly journals Multiplecyp51A-Based Mechanisms Identified in Azole-Resistant Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus from China

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 4321-4325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musang Liu ◽  
Rong Zeng ◽  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Li ◽  
Guixia Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Resistant Isolate ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistant Strains

ABSTRACTSeventy-twoA. fumigatusclinical isolates from China were investigated for azole resistance based on mutations ofcyp51A. We identified four azole-resistant strains, among which we found three strains highly resistant to itraconazole, two of which exhibit the TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I mutation, while one carries only the TR34/L98H mutation. To our knowledge, the latter has not been found previously in China. The fourth multiazole-resistant isolate (with only moderate itraconazole resistance) carries a new G432A mutation.

scholarly journals Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in the environment: Identifying key reservoirs and hotspots of antifungal resistance

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. e1009711
Author(s):  
Caroline Burks ◽  
Alexandria Darby ◽  
Luisa Gómez Londoño ◽  
Michelle Momany ◽  
Marin T. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Sampling Bias ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Antifungal Stewardship ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Ergosterol Synthesis ◽  
Opportunistic Human Pathogen

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes aspergillosis, a spectrum of environmentally acquired respiratory illnesses. It has a cosmopolitan distribution and exists in the environment as a saprotroph on decaying plant matter. Azoles, which target Cyp51A in the ergosterol synthesis pathway, are the primary class of drugs used to treat aspergillosis. Azoles are also used to combat plant pathogenic fungi. Recently, an increasing number of azole-naive patients have presented with pan-azole–resistant strains of A. fumigatus. The TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A alleles in the cyp51A gene are the most common ones conferring pan-azole resistance. There is evidence that these mutations arose in agricultural settings; therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to identify azole resistance in environmental A. fumigatus and to determine where resistance is developing in the environment. Here, we summarize the global occurrence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus in the environment based on available literature. Additionally, we have created an interactive world map showing where resistant isolates have been detected and include information on the specific alleles identified, environmental settings, and azole fungicide use. Azole-resistant A. fumigatus has been found on every continent, except for Antarctica, with the highest number of reports from Europe. Developed environments, specifically hospitals and gardens, were the most common settings where azole-resistant A. fumigatus was detected, followed by soils sampled from agricultural settings. The TR34/L98H resistance allele was the most common in all regions except South America where the TR46/Y121F/T289A allele was the most common. A major consideration in interpreting this survey of the literature is sampling bias; regions and environments that have been extensively sampled are more likely to show greater azole resistance even though resistance could be more prevalent in areas that are under-sampled or not sampled at all. Increased surveillance to pinpoint reservoirs, as well as antifungal stewardship, is needed to preserve this class of antifungals for crop protection and human health.

scholarly journals Differences in Interactions between Azole Drugs Related to Modifications in the 14-α Sterol Demethylase Gene (cyp51A) of Aspergillus fumigatus

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 2119-2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Garcia-Effron ◽  
E. Mellado ◽  
A. Gomez-Lopez ◽  
L. Alcazar-Fuoli ◽  
M. Cuenca-Estrella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Knockout Strain ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Gene Knockouts

ABSTRACT The combined activity of different azole drugs was investigated. Thirty-one Aspergillus fumigatus strains were tested, including two cyp51A − and one cyp51B − gene-knockout strain and azole-susceptible and -resistant strains with different resistance mechanisms. The combination of itraconazole and voriconazole was synergistic for all strains except for those with gene knockouts.

scholarly journals First Clinical Isolation of an Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Isolate Harboring a TR46 Y121F T289A Mutation in South America

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermina Isla ◽  
Florencia Leonardelli ◽  
Iris N. Tiraboschi ◽  
Nicolás Refojo ◽  
Alejandra Hevia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South America ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Resistance Mechanism ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT One of the most recently described Aspergillus fumigatus CYP51A-mediated azole resistance mechanisms is TR46 Y121F T289A. Clinical A. fumigatus strains harboring these substitutions have been reported worldwide, with the exception of South America. We describe the first clinical A. fumigatus strain with this resistance mechanism isolated from an Argentinian patient. The strain was isolated in 2009 (1 year after the first-described mutant in United States), demonstrating that these alleles were scattered worldwide earlier than previously thought.

scholarly journals Emerging aspergillosis by azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus at an intensive care unit in the Netherlands, 2010 to 2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (30) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith van Paassen ◽  
Anne Russcher ◽  
Astrid WM in 't Veld - van Wingerden ◽  
Paul E Verweij ◽  
Eduard J Kuijper
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Antifungal Treatment ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Resistant Isolate ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Icu Patients

The prevalence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) at the intensive care unit (ICU) is unknown and difficult to assess since IA also develops in patients lacking specific host factors. In the Netherlands, increasing azole-resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus complicates treatment of patients with IA. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IA by azole-resistant A. fumigatus at the ICU among patients receiving antifungal treatment and to follow their clinical outcome and prognosis. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a university hospital ICU from January 2010 to December 2013. From all patients who received antifungal treatment for suspected IA, relevant clinical and microbiological data were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Of 9,121 admitted ICU-patients, 136 had received antifungal treatment for suspected IA, of which 38 had a positive A. fumigatus culture. Ten of the 38 patients harboured at least one azole-resistant isolate. Resistance mechanisms consisted of alterations in the cyp51A gene, more specific TR34/L98H and TR46/T289A/Y121F. Microsatellite typing did not show clonal relatedness, though isolates from two patients were genetically related. The overall 90-day mortality of patients with IA by azole-resistant A. fumigatus and patients with suspicion of IA by azole-susceptible isolates in the ICU was 100% (10/10) vs 82% (23/28) respectively. We conclude that the changing pattern of IA in ICU patients requires appropriate criteria for recognition, diagnosis and rapid resistance tests. The increase in azole resistance rates also challenges a reconsideration of empirical antifungal therapy.

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