Open AccessEnvironmental azole fungicide, prochloraz, can induce cross‐resistance to medical triazoles in Candida glabrata
Author(s) -
FariaRamos Isabel,
Tavares Pedro R.,
Farinha Sofia,
NevesMaia João,
Miranda Isabel M.,
Silva Raquel M.,
Estevinho Letícia M.,
PinaVaz Cidalia,
Rodrigues Acácio G.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/1567-1364.12193
Subject(s) - candida glabrata , azole , fluconazole , posaconazole , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cross resistance , multiple drug resistance , fungicide , drug resistance , itraconazole , antifungal , botany
Acquisition of azole resistance by clinically relevant yeasts in nature may result in a significant, yet undetermined, impact in human health. The main goal of this study was to assess the development of cross‐resistance between agricultural and clinical azoles by C andida spp. An in vitro induction assay was performed, for a period of 90 days, with prochloraz ( PCZ ) – an agricultural antifungal. Afterward, the induced molecular resistance mechanisms were unveiled. MIC value of PCZ increased significantly in all C andida spp. isolates. However, only C . glabrata developed cross‐resistance to fluconazole and posaconazole. The increased MIC values were stable. Candida glabrata azole resistance acquisition triggered by PCZ exposure involved the upregulation of the ATP binding cassette multidrug transporter genes and the transcription factor, PDR 1 . Single mutation previously implicated in azole resistance was found in PDR 1 while ERG 11 showed several synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms. These results might explain why C . glabrata is so commonly less susceptible to clinical azoles, suggesting that its exposure to agricultural azole antifungals may be associated to the emergence of cross‐resistance. Such studies forward potential explanations for the worldwide increasing clinical prevalence of C . glabrata and the associated worse prognosis of an infection by this species.