scholarly journals Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes in Latin America: A Map of Molecular Types, Genotypic Diversity, and Antifungal Susceptibility as Reported by the Latin American Cryptococcal Study Group

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Carolina Firacative ◽  
Wieland Meyer ◽  
Elizabeth Castañeda
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Molecular Type ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Species Complexes

Cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal mycosis, is caused by members of the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes. In Latin America, cryptococcal meningitis is still an important health threat with a significant clinical burden. Analysis of publicly available molecular data from 5686 clinical, environmental, and veterinary cryptococcal isolates from member countries of the Latin American Cryptococcal Study Group showed that, as worldwide, C. neoformans molecular type VNI is the most common cause of cryptococcosis (76.01%) in HIV-infected people, followed by C. gattii molecular type VGII (12.37%), affecting mostly otherwise healthy hosts. These two molecular types also predominate in the environment (68.60% for VNI and 20.70% for VGII). Among the scarce number of veterinary cases, VGII is the predominant molecular type (73.68%). Multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that, in Latin America, the C. neoformans population is less diverse than the C. gattii population (D of 0.7104 vs. 0.9755). Analysis of antifungal susceptibility data showed the presence of non-wild-type VNI, VGI, VGII, and VGIII isolates in the region. Overall, the data presented herein summarize the progress that has been made towards the molecular epidemiology of cryptococcal isolates in Latin America, contributing to the characterization of the genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of these globally spreading pathogenic yeasts.

Molecular types of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Western Australia and correlation with antifungal susceptibility

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 1004-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gar-hing Andrew Lee ◽  
Ian Arthur ◽  
Adam Merritt ◽  
Michael Leung
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Antifungal Agents ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii ◽  
Molecular Type ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Western Australian

AbstractCryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes have a worldwide distribution; however, there is geographical variation in the prevalence of different molecular types. Additionally, antifungal susceptibility differences between molecular types have been demonstrated. This study investigates the distribution of cryptococcal molecular types among human clinical isolates over a 10-year period from a Western Australian population. Molecular type was determined based on polymorphisms in the phospholipase gene locus identified through amplification and sequencing. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were identified for fluconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, posaconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B. Most isolates were C. neoformans complex (42) of which over half were molecular type VNI (22) followed by VNII (20). Among the remaining C. gattii complex (13) the majority were VGI (11) with VGII (2) uncommonly found. All isolates demonstrated low MICs to antifungal agents including fluconazole. Geometric mean MIC values against 5-fluorocytosine for VNI (1.741 mg/l) were significantly higher than those for VGI (0.47 mg/l, P = .002). Similarly fluconazole geometric mean MICs against fluconazole for VNI (2.3 mg/l) were significantly higher than VNII (0.87 mg/l, P = .036). These data reveal the presence of four molecular types (VNI, VNII, VGI and VGII) within clinical Western Australian cryptococcal isolates and, while elevated antifungal MICs were not encountered, significant molecular type dependent differences in susceptibility were found.

scholarly journals Genotypic Diversity Is Independent of Pathogenicity in Colombian Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Galleria mellonella

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norida Velez ◽  
Maira Alvarado ◽  
Claudia Parra-Giraldo ◽  
Zilpa Sánchez-Quitian ◽  
Patricia Escandón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii

Opportunistic Infections in Pediatric HIV Infection: A study of 74 Autopsy Cases from Latin America: The Latin American AIDS Pathology Study Group

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-576
Author(s):  
Ricardo Drut ◽  
Virginia Anderson ◽  
M. Alba Greco ◽  
Carmen Gutiérrez ◽  
Beatriz de León-Bojorge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Pediatric Hiv ◽  
Study Group

scholarly journals Multi-locus sequence typing reveals genotypic similarity in Nigerian Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI of environmental and clinical origin

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Chidebelu ◽  
Emeka I. Nweze ◽  
Jacques F. Meis ◽  
Massimo Cogliati ◽  
Ferry Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Molecular Type ◽  
Aids Patients ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Pigeon Droppings ◽  
Hiv Aids

Introduction Pigeon droppings are among the major environmental sources of Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI, from where the organism infects susceptible humans and animals resulting in cryptococcosis. Until now, C. neoformans AFLP1B/VNII was the only molecular type reported in Nigeria. Effective clinical treatment of this infection has occasionally been stymied by the emergence of antifungal non-susceptible, and resistant strains of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI. Hypothesis/Gap Statement Pigeon droppings harbour C. neoformans and HIV/AIDS patients are among the susceptible population to develop cryptococcal infection. Epidemiological data on cryptococcal prevalence is limited in Nigeria. Aim To investigate the environmental prevalence of C. neoformans in South-eastern Nigeria and compare the isolates with other lineages by using molecular and microbiological tools. Methodology A total of 500 pigeon droppings and 300 blood samples of HIV/AIDS patients were collected, respectively, from five market squares and three tertiary healthcare centres within the Nsukka area of South-eastern Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility of the C. neoformans isolates to amphotericin B, fluconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole was investigated based on the CLSI M27-A3 protocol. Yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, thereafter Cryptococcus MLST was performed according to the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) consensus scheme. Results C. neoformans was recovered from 6 (1.2 %) pigeon droppings and 6 (2 %) blood cultures of HIV/AIDS patients. Molecular analyses indicated that all cryptococcal isolates belong to serotype A and the AFLP1/VNI molecular type with sequence type (ST)32. Infection with C. neoformans was independent of sex and age of the patients investigated. All C. neoformans isolates were susceptible to the seven antifungal agents. Conclusion This is the first report on the prevalence of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI (ST32) in environmental and clinical samples from Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility indicates that antifungal resistance by C. neoformans is yet a rare occurrence in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Genotype, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Virulence of Clinical South African Cryptococcus neoformans Strains from National Surveillance, 2005–2009

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Serisha D. Naicker ◽  
Rindidzani E. Magobo ◽  
Tsidiso G. Maphanga ◽  
Carolina Firacative ◽  
Erika van Schalkwyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
South African ◽  
Reference Strain ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
National Surveillance ◽  
Molecular Type ◽  
African Patients ◽  
Sequence Types

In South Africa, Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of adult meningitis. We performed multi locus sequence typing and fluconazole susceptibility testing of clinical C. neoformans isolates collected from 251 South African patients with cryptococcosis through national surveillance from 2005 to 2009. We examined the association between clinical characteristics of patients and genotype, and the effect of genotype on in-hospital mortality. We performed whole genome phylogenetic analysis of fifteen C. neoformans isolates with the molecular type VNB and tested their virulence in a Galleria mellonella model. Most isolates had the molecular type VNI (206/251, 82%), followed by VNII (25/251, 10%), VNB (15/251, 6%), and VNIV (5/251, 2%); 67 sequence types were identified. There were no differences in fluconazole minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values among molecular types and the majority of strains had low MIC values (MIC50 of 1 µg/mL and MIC90 of 4 µg/mL). Males were almost twice as likely of being infected with a non-VNI genotype (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–10.99; p = 0.61). Compared to patients infected with a VNI genotype, those with a non-VNI genotype had a 50% reduced adjusted odds of dying in hospital (95% CI: 0.03–7.57; p = 0.62). However, for both these analyses, our estimates had wide confidence intervals spanning 1 with large p-values. Fifteen VNB strains were not as virulent in a G. mellonella larval model as the H99 reference strain. A majority of these VNB strains belonged to the VNBII clade and were very closely related by phylogenetic analysis.

Opportunistic Infections in Pediatric HIV Infection: A study of 74 Autopsy Cases from Latin America: The Latin American AIDS Pathology Study Group

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-576
Author(s):  
Ricardo Drut ◽  
Virginia Anderson ◽  
M. Alba Greco ◽  
Carmen Gutierrez ◽  
Beatriz de Leon-Bojorge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Pediatric Hiv ◽  
Study Group

scholarly journals Frequency and geographical distribution of genotypes and mating types of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes in Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-188
Author(s):  
Constanza Giselle Taverna ◽  
María Eugenia Bosco-Borgeat ◽  
Mariana Mazza ◽  
Matías Ezequiel Vivot ◽  
Graciela Davel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii ◽  
Mating Types ◽  
Species Complexes
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