scholarly journals Loss of C-5 Sterol Desaturase Activity Results in Increased Resistance to Azole and Echinocandin Antifungals in a Clinical Isolate of Candida parapsilosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Rybak ◽  
C. Michael Dickens ◽  
Josie E. Parker ◽  
Kelly E. Caudle ◽  
Kayihura Manigaba ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Among emerging non-albicans Candida species, Candida parapsilosis is of particular concern as a cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections in neonatal and intensive care unit patients. While fluconazole and echinocandins are considered effective treatments for such infections, recent reports of fluconazole and echinocandin resistance in C. parapsilosis indicate a growing problem. The present study describes a novel mechanism of antifungal resistance in this organism affecting susceptibility to azole and echinocandin antifungals in a clinical isolate obtained from a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Transcriptome analysis indicated differential expression of several genes in the resistant isolate, including upregulation of ergosterol biosynthesis pathway genes ERG2, ERG5, ERG6, ERG11, ERG24, ERG25, and UPC2. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the resistant isolate possessed an ERG3 mutation resulting in a G111R amino acid substitution. Sterol profiles indicated a reduction in sterol desaturase activity as a result of this mutation. Replacement of both mutant alleles in the resistant isolate with the susceptible isolate's allele restored wild-type susceptibility to all azoles and echinocandins tested. Disruption of ERG3 in the susceptible and resistant isolates resulted in a loss of sterol desaturase activity, high-level azole resistance, and an echinocandin-intermediate to -resistant phenotype. While disruption of ERG3 in C. albicans resulted in azole resistance, echinocandin MICs, while elevated, remained within the susceptible range. This work demonstrates that the G111R substitution in Erg3 is wholly responsible for the altered azole and echinocandin susceptibilities observed in this C. parapsilosis isolate and is the first report of an ERG3 mutation influencing susceptibility to the echinocandins.

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 6629-6633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Branco ◽  
Ana P. Silva ◽  
Raquel M. Silva ◽  
Ana Silva-Dias ◽  
Cidália Pina-Vaz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCandida parapsilosisis the second most prevalent fungal agent causing bloodstream infections. Nevertheless, there is little information about the molecular mechanisms underlying azole resistance in this species. Mutations (G1747A, A2619C, and A3191C) in theMRR1transcription factor gene were identified in fluconazole- and voriconazole-resistant strains. Independent expression ofMRR1genes harboring these mutations showed that G1747A (G583R) and A2619C (K873N) are gain-of-function mutations responsible for azole resistance, the first described inC. parapsilosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Iovleva ◽  
Roberta T. Mettus ◽  
Christi L. McElheny ◽  
Marissa P. Griffith ◽  
Mustapha M. Mustapha ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT OXA-232 is an OXA-48-group class D β-lactamase that hydrolyzes expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems at low levels. Clinical strains producing OXA-232 are sometimes susceptible to carbapenems, making it difficult to identify them in the clinical microbiology laboratory. We describe the development of carbapenem resistance in sequential clinical isolates of Raoultella ornithinolytica carrying blaOXA-232 in a hospitalized patient, where the ertapenem MIC increased from 0.5 μg/ml to 512 μg/ml and the meropenem MIC increased from 0.125 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml during the course of ertapenem therapy. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis identified loss-of-function mutations in ompC and ompF in carbapenem-resistant isolates that were not present in the initial carbapenem-susceptible isolate. Complementation of a carbapenem-resistant isolate with an intact ompF gene resulted in 16- to 32-fold reductions in carbapenem MICs, whereas complementation with intact ompC resulted in a 2-fold reduction in carbapenem MICs. Additionally, blaOXA-232 expression increased 2.9-fold in a carbapenem-resistant isolate. Rapid development of high-level carbapenem resistance in initially carbapenem-susceptible OXA-232-producing R. ornithinolytica under selective pressure from carbapenem therapy highlights the diagnostic challenges in detecting Enterobacteriaceae strains producing this inefficient carbapenemase.


2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 2997-3007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rati Tandon ◽  
Sharat Chandra ◽  
Rajendra Kumar Baharia ◽  
Sanchita Das ◽  
Pragya Misra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPreviously, through a proteomic analysis, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was found to be overexpressed in the sodium antimony gluconate (SAG)-resistant clinical isolate compared to that in the SAG-sensitive clinical isolate ofLeishmania donovani. The present study was designed to explore the potential role of the PCNA protein in SAG resistance inL. donovani. For this purpose, the protein was cloned, overexpressed, purified, and modeled. Western blot (WB) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses confirmed that PCNA was overexpressed by ≥3-fold in the log phase, stationary phase, and peanut agglutinin isolated procyclic and metacyclic stages of the promastigote form and by ∼5-fold in the amastigote form of the SAG-resistant isolate compared to that in the SAG-sensitive isolate.L. donovaniPCNA (LdPCNA) was overexpressed as a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein in a SAG-sensitive clinical isolate ofL. donovani, and modulation of the sensitivities of the transfectants to pentavalent antimonial (SbV) and trivalent antimonial (SbIII) drugs was assessedin vitroagainst promastigotes and intracellular (J774A.1 cell line) amastigotes, respectively. Overexpression of LdPCNA in the SAG-sensitive isolate resulted in an increase in the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of SbV(from 41.2 ± 0.6 μg/ml to 66.5 ± 3.9 μg/ml) and SbIII(from 24.0 ± 0.3 μg/ml to 43.4 ± 1.8 μg/ml). Moreover, PCNA-overexpressing promastigote transfectants exhibited less DNA fragmentation compared to that of wild-type SAG-sensitive parasites upon SbIIItreatment. In addition, SAG-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was found to be significantly inhibited in the macrophages infected with the transfectants compared with that in wild-type SAG-sensitive parasites. Consequently, we infer that LdPCNA has a significant role in SAG resistance inL. donovaniclinical isolates, which warrants detailed investigations regarding its mechanism.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 4321-4325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musang Liu ◽  
Rong Zeng ◽  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Li ◽  
Guixia Lv ◽  
...  

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srisuda Pannanusorn ◽  
Bernardo Ramírez-Zavala ◽  
Heinrich Lünsdorf ◽  
Birgitta Agerberth ◽  
Joachim Morschhäuser ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In Candida parapsilosis , biofilm formation is considered to be a major virulence factor. Previously, we determined the ability of 33 clinical isolates causing bloodstream infection to form biofilms and identified three distinct groups of biofilm-forming strains (negative, low, and high). Here, we establish two different biofilm structures among strains forming large amounts of biofilm in which strains with complex spider-like structures formed robust biofilms on different surface materials with increased resistance to fluconazole. Surprisingly, the transcription factor Bcr1, required for biofilm formation in Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis , has an essential role only in strains with low capacity for biofilm formation. Although BCR1 leads to the formation of more and longer pseudohyphae, it was not required for initial adhesion and formation of mature biofilms in strains with a high level of biofilm formation. Furthermore, an additional phenotype affected by BCR1 was the switch in colony morphology from rough to crepe, but only in strains forming high levels of biofilm. All bcr1 Δ/Δ mutants showed increased proteolytic activity and increased susceptibility to the antimicrobial peptides protamine and RP-1 compared to corresponding wild-type and complemented strains. Taken together, our results demonstrate that biofilm formation in clinical isolates of C. parapsilosis is both dependent and independent of BCR1 , but even in strains which showed a BCR1 -independent biofilm phenotype, BCR1 has alternative physiological functions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 6615-6619 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Paul ◽  
S. M. Rudramurthy ◽  
J. F. Meis ◽  
J. W. Mouton ◽  
A. Chakrabarti

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to explore any mutation in theCYP51gene conferring azole resistance inAspergillus flavus. Two voriconazole-resistant and 45 voriconazole-susceptible isolates were included in the study. Sequence analysis demonstrated a T1025C nucleotide change inCYP51C, resulting in the Y319H amino acid substitution in one resistant isolate. However, the earlier described T788G mutation inCYP51Cconferring voriconazole resistance inA. flavusisolates was present in all isolates, irrespective of their susceptibility status.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 1129-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Vazquez ◽  
Elias K. Manavathu

ABSTRACTMolecular characterization ofcyp51Afrom the azole-resistantAspergillus fumigatusisolate 50593 from a lung transplant patient showed Y121F/T289A changes coupled with a 46-bp tandem repeat (TR46) on the promoter, whereascyp51Afrom the pretherapy isolate,A. fumigatus47381, showed no changes. This is the first reported case ofA. fumigatusazole resistance due to Y121F/T289A/TR46 in the United States, suggesting that multiple mutational alterations ofcyp51Aresulting in high-level azole resistance could occur during prolonged antifungal therapy.


2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 4608-4615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Vandeputte ◽  
Gérald Larcher ◽  
Thierry Bergès ◽  
Gilles Renier ◽  
Dominique Chabasse ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Azole resistance has been insufficiently investigated in the yeast Candida tropicalis. Here we determined the molecular mechanisms responsible for azole resistance in a clinical isolate of this pathogenic yeast. Antifungal susceptibility testing performed by a disk diffusion method showed resistance or markedly decreased susceptibility to azoles, which was confirmed by determination of MICs. Considering the relationship between azole susceptibility and the respiration reported for other yeast species, the respiratory activity of this isolate was investigated. Flow cytometry using rhodamine 123 and oxygraphy demonstrated an increased respiratory activity, which was not linked to an overexpression or increased number of copies of the mitochondrial genome. Among previously described resistance mechanisms, an increased activity of efflux pumps was investigated by flow cytometry using rhodamine 6G. However, the efflux of rhodamine 6G was lower in the resistant isolate than in susceptible ones. Likewise, real-time reverse transcription-PCR quantification of the expression of C. tropicalis MDR1 (CtMDR1), which encodes an efflux protein belonging to the major facilitator superfamily, did not show overexpression of this gene. In contrast, the resistant isolate overexpressed the CtERG11 gene coding for lanosterol 14α-demethylase. This was in agreement with the larger amount of ergosterol found in this isolate. Moreover, sequencing of CtERG11 showed a point mutation leading to a tyrosine substitution in the protein sequence, which might lead to decreased binding affinity for azoles. In conclusion, overexpression of CtERG11 associated with a missense mutation in this gene seemed to be responsible for the acquired azole resistance of this clinical isolate.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 2225-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Eshaghi ◽  
Dea Shahinas ◽  
Aimin Li ◽  
Ruwandi Kariyawasam ◽  
Philip Banh ◽  
...  

The ability of vancomycin resistance determinants to be horizontally transferred within enterococci species is a concern. Identification and characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a clinical isolate have a significant impact on infection control practices. In this study, we describe a clinical isolate ofEnterococcus gallinarumexhibiting high-level resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin. The genetic characterization of this isolate showed the presence ofvanAandvanBgenes in addition to the naturally carriedvanCgene.vanAwas identified on pA6981, a 35,608-bp circular plasmid with significant homology to plasmid pS177. ThevanBoperon was integrated into the bacterial chromosome and showed a high level of homology to previously reported Tn1549and Tn5382. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report ofE. gallinarumcarrying bothvanAandvanBoperons, indicating the importance of identifying the vancomycin resistance mechanism in non-E. faeciumand non-E. faecalisenterococcal species.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 682-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Lazzarini ◽  
Maria Carmela Esposto ◽  
Anna Prigitano ◽  
Massimo Cogliati ◽  
Gabriella De Lorenzis ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of azole resistance amongAspergillus fumigatusclinical isolates. A total of 533 clinical isolates that had been collected between 1995 and 2006, from 441 patients, were screened. No resistance was detected in isolates collected between 1995 and 1997. Starting in 1998, the resistance rate was 6.9%; a total of 24 patients (6.25%) harbored a resistant isolate. The TR34/L98H substitution was found in 21 of 30 tested isolates.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document