scholarly journals A Novel Combination of CYP51A Mutations Confers Pan-Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiana Macedo ◽  
Tomás Brito Devoto ◽  
Santiago Pola ◽  
Jorge L. Finquelievich ◽  
María L. Cuestas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The treatment of invasive and chronic aspergillosis involves triazole drugs. Its intensive use has resulted in the selection of resistant isolates, and at present, azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is considered an emerging threat to public health worldwide. The aim of this work is to uncover the molecular mechanism implicated in the azole resistance phenotype of three Aspergillus fumigatus clinical strains isolated from an Argentinian cystic fibrosis patient under long-term triazole treatment. Strain susceptibilities were assessed, and CYP51A gene sequences were analyzed. Two of the studied Aspergillus fumigatus strains harbored the TR34-L98H allele. These strains showed high MIC values for all tested triazoles (>16.00 μg/ml, 1.00 μg/ml, 1.00 μg/ml, and 2.00 μg/ml for itraconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole, respectively). The third strain had a novel amino acid change (R65K) combined with the TR34-L98H mutations. This new mutation combination induces a pan-azole MIC augment compared with TR34-L98H mutants (>16 μg/ml, 4.00 μg/ml, 4.00 μg/ml, and 8.00 μg/ml for itraconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole, respectively). The strain harboring the TR34-R65K-L98H allele showed no inhibition halo when voriconazole susceptibility was evaluated by disk diffusion. The effect of these mutations in the azole-resistant phenotype was confirmed by gene replacement experiments. Transformants harboring the TR34-L98H and TR34-R65K-L98H alleles mimicked the azole-resistant phenotype of the clinical isolates, while the incorporation of the TR34-R65K and R65K alleles did not significantly increase azole MIC values. This is the first report of the TR34-L98H allele in Argentina. Moreover, a novel CYP51A allele (TR34-R65K-L98H) that induces a pan-azole MIC augment is described.

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bernal-Martínez ◽  
H. Gil ◽  
O. Rivero-Menéndez ◽  
S. Gago ◽  
M. Cuenca-Estrella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The global emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains is a growing public health concern. Different patterns of azole resistance are linked to mutations in cyp51A. Therefore, accurate characterization of the mechanisms underlying azole resistance is critical to guide selection of the most appropriate antifungal agent for patients with aspergillosis. This study describes a new sequencing-free molecular screening tool for early detection of the most frequent mutations known to be associated with azole resistance in A. fumigatus. PCRs targeting cyp51A mutations at positions G54, Y121, G448, and M220 and targeting different tandem repeats (TRs) in the promoter region were designed. All PCRs were performed simultaneously, using the same cycling conditions. Amplicons were then distinguished using a high-resolution melting assay. For standardization, 30 well-characterized azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains were used, yielding melting curve clusters for different resistance mechanisms for each target and allowing detection of the most frequent azole resistance mutations, i.e., G54E, G54V, G54R, G54W, Y121F, M220V, M220I, M220T, M220K, and G448S, and the tandem repeats TR34, TR46, and TR53. Validation of the method was performed using a blind panel of 80 A. fumigatus azole-susceptible or azole-resistant strains. All strains included in the blind panel were properly classified as susceptible or resistant with the developed method. The implementation of this screening method can reduce the time needed for the detection of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates and therefore facilitate selection of the best antifungal therapy in patients with aspergillosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Buil ◽  
H. A. L. van der Lee ◽  
A. J. M. M. Rijs ◽  
J. Zoll ◽  
J. A. M. F. Hovestadt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Antifungal susceptibility testing is an essential tool for guiding therapy, although EUCAST and CLSI reference methods are often available only in specialized centers. We studied the performance of an agar-based screening method for the detection of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus cultures. The VIPcheck consists of four wells containing voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, or a growth control. Ninety-six A. fumigatus isolates were used. Thirty-three isolates harbored a known resistance mechanism: TR34/L98H (11 isolates), TR46/Y121F/T289A (6 isolates), TR53 (2 isolates), and 14 isolates with other cyp51A gene point mutations. Eighteen resistant isolates had no cyp51A-mediated azole resistance. Forty-five isolates had a wild-type (WT) azole phenotype. Four technicians and two inexperienced interns, blinded to the genotype/phenotype, read the plates visually after 24 h and 48 h and documented minimal growth, uninhibited growth, and no growth. The performance was compared to the EUCAST method. After 24 h of incubation, the mean sensitivity and specificity were 0.54 and 1.00, respectively, with uninhibited growth as the threshold. After 48 h of incubation, the performance mean sensitivity and specificity were 0.98 and 0.93, respectively, with minimal growth. The performance was not affected by observer experience in mycology. The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.87 after 24 h and 0.85 after 48 h. VIPcheck enabled the selection of azole-resistant A. fumigatus colonies, with a mean sensitivity and specificity of 0.98 and 0.93, respectively. Uninhibited growth on any azole-containing well after 24 h and minimal growth after 48 h were indicative of resistance. These results indicate that the VIPcheck is an easy-to-use tool for azole resistance screening and the selection of colonies that require MIC testing.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 2343-2345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakko van Ingen ◽  
Henrich A. L. van der Lee ◽  
Antonius J. M. M. Rijs ◽  
Eveline Snelders ◽  
Willem J. G. Melchers ◽  
...  

High-level pan-azole-resistantAspergillus fumigatuswas recovered from four patients with chronic lung disease. In one patient, the development of progressive resistance followed long-term azole therapy and switching between antifungal azoles. The high-level pan-azole-resistant phenotypes were not associated with a specificcyp51Agene mutation. New strategies that avoid the development of progressive azole resistance are needed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 7771-7778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. S. Warrilow ◽  
Josie E. Parker ◽  
Claire L. Price ◽  
W. David Nes ◽  
Steven L. Kelly ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe incidence of triazole-resistantAspergillusinfections is increasing worldwide, often mediated through mutations in the CYP51A amino acid sequence. New classes of azole-based drugs are required to combat the increasing resistance to existing triazole therapeutics. In this study, a CYP51 reconstitution assay is described consisting of eburicol, purified recombinantAspergillus fumigatusCPR1 (AfCPR1), andEscherichia colimembrane suspensions containing recombinantA. fumigatusCYP51 proteins, allowingin vitroscreening of azole antifungals. Azole-CYP51 studies determining the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed thatA. fumigatusCYP51B (Af51B IC50, 0.50 μM) was 34-fold more susceptible to inhibition by fluconazole thanA. fumigatusCYP51A (Af51A IC50, 17 μM) and that Af51A and Af51B were equally susceptible to inhibition by voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole (IC50s of 0.16 to 0.38 μM). Af51A-G54W and Af51A-M220K enzymes were 11- and 15-fold less susceptible to inhibition by itraconazole and 30- and 8-fold less susceptible to inhibition by posaconazole than wild-type Af51A, confirming the azole-resistant phenotype of these two Af51A mutations. Susceptibility to voriconazole of Af51A-G54W and Af51A-M220K was only marginally lower than that of wild-type Af51A. Susceptibility of Af51A-L98H to inhibition by voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole was only marginally lower (less than 2-fold) than that of wild-type Af51A. However, Af51A-L98H retained 5 to 8% residual activity in the presence of 32 μM triazole, which could confer azole resistance inA. fumigatusstrains that harbor the Af51A-L98H mutation. The AfCPR1/Af51 assay system demonstrated the biochemical basis for the increased azole resistance ofA. fumigatusstrains harboring G54W, L98H, and M220K Af51A point mutations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyna Mroczyńska ◽  
Ewelina Kurzyk ◽  
Magdalena Śliwka-Kaszyńska ◽  
Urszula Nawrot ◽  
Marta Adamik ◽  
...  

Triazoles are the only compounds used as antibiotics in both medicine and agriculture. The presence of triazoles in the environment can contribute to the acquisition of azole resistance among isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of A. fumigatus exposure to triazoles on susceptibility to these compounds. Seventeen triazole-resistant and 21 triazole-sensitive A. fumigatus isolates were examined. The isolates were transferred 20 times on the Sabouraud medium supplemented with posaconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole, followed by five times on the medium not supplemented. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimycotics were examined according to the EUCAST broth microdilution method after the 20th transfer and also the 25th transfer. In addition, the expression levels of genes mdr1, mdr2, mdr3, atrF, cyp51A and cyp51B were determined. Cultivation of A. fumigatus on media supplemented with posaconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole resulted in the acquisition of resistance to the tested triazoles of all examined isolates. After recultivation on Sabouraud without azoles, most of the isolates lost their acquired resistance. The long-term use of triazole compounds in agriculture may result in the occurrence of triazole resistant A. fumigatus isolates in the environment, not only by induction or selection of mutations in the cyp51A gene, but also by contribution to changes in the gene expression.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Escribano ◽  
Sandra Recio ◽  
Teresa Peláez ◽  
Milagros González-Rivera ◽  
Emilio Bouza ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSecondary resistance to azoles inAspergillus fumigatusisolates from patients taking long-term itraconazole therapy has been described. We studied the acquisition of secondary azole resistance in 20A. fumigatusisolates with no mutations at codon 54, 98, 138, 220, 432, or 448 in thecyp51Agene. Adjusted conidium inocula (3 × 107CFU/ml) of each isolate were prepared and progressively or directly exposed to increasing itraconazole concentrations, ranging from 0.5 μg/ml to 16 μg/ml. Itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole MICs were determined using the CLSI M38-A2 procedure before (MICinitial) and after (MICfinal) exposure to itraconazole. In both procedures, the MICfinalwas significantly higher than the MICinitial. However, after progressive exposure to itraconazole, the MICs of the three azoles were higher than after direct exposure. No mutations were found at codon 54, 98, 138, 220, 432, or 448 in thecyp51Agene of isolates growing at the highest concentration of itraconazole. More concentrated conidium inocula (2 × 109CFU/ml) plated in itraconazole at 4 μg/ml revealed the presence of heteroresistant populations in two initially wild-type isolates. These isolates became resistant to itraconazole and posaconazole only after use of the concentrated inoculum. These heteroresistant isolates harbored a mutation at codon G54, and the MICs of itraconazole and posaconazole were >16 μg/ml. In all procedures,A. fumigatusshort tandem repeat (STRAf) typing was used to demonstrate that the genotype did not change before or after exposure to itraconazole.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Umeyama ◽  
Yuta Hayashi ◽  
Hisaki Shimosaka ◽  
Tatsuya Inukai ◽  
Satoshi Yamagoe ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTA pan-azole-resistantAspergillus fumigatusstrain with thecyp51Amutations Gly138Ser and Asn248Lys was isolated from a patient receiving long-term voriconazole treatment. PCR fragments containingcyp51Awith the mutations were introduced along with the Cas9 protein and single guide RNA into the azole-resistant/susceptible strains. Recombinant strains showed increased susceptibility via the replacement of Ser138 by glycine. Genetic recombination, which has been hampered thus far in clinical isolates, can now be achieved using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanbiao Long ◽  
Liping Zeng ◽  
Shanlei Qiao ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Guowei Zhong

ABSTRACTAntifungal treatment is often ineffectual, partly because of biofilm formation. In this study, by using a combined forward and reverse genetic strategy, we identified that nucleus-localized AfSsn3 and its partner AfSsn8, which constitute a Cdk8-cyclin pair, are required for azole resistance inAspergillus fumigatus. Deletion ofAfssn3led to increased absorption and utilization of glucose and amino acids. Interestingly, absorption and utilization of glucose accelerated the extracellular polysaccharide formation, while utilization of the amino acids serine, threonine, and glycine increased sphingolipid pathway intermediate accumulation. In addition, the absence ofAfssn3induced the activity of the efflux pump proteins. These factors indicate the mature biofilm is responsible for the major mechanisms ofA. fumigatusresistance to azoles in the ΔAfssn3mutant. Collectively, the loss ofAfssn3led to two “barrier” layers between the intracellular and extracellular spaces, which consequently decreased drug penetration into the cell.


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.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 4465-4468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn R. Lockhart ◽  
João P. Frade ◽  
Kizee A. Etienne ◽  
Michael A. Pfaller ◽  
Daniel J. Diekema ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe surveyed 497 isolates ofAspergillus fumigatuscollected from 2008 to 2009 as part of the ARTEMIS global surveillance study for elevated MIC values to itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole. Sequencing of thecyp51Agene revealed that 8/29 isolates with elevated MIC values to one or more triazoles, all originating in China, contained the TR/L98H mutation associated with resistant European isolates ofA. fumigatus. This is the first time the TR/L98H mutation has been identified outside Europe.


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