Premium
Diversity and origins of Indian multi‐triazole resistant strains of Aspergillus fumigatus
Author(s) -
Chang Howard,
Ashu Eta,
Sharma Cheshta,
Kathuria Shallu,
Chowdhary Anuradha,
Xu Jianping
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/myc.12494
Subject(s) - aspergillus fumigatus , biology , multilocus sequence typing , microbiology and biotechnology , typing , genotype , genetic diversity , population , drug resistance , aspergillosis , antifungal drug , genetics , gene , antifungal , immunology , medicine , environmental health
Summary Aspergillus fumigatus is a widespread opportunistic fungal pathogen causing an alarmingly high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Nosocomial infections by drug‐resistant A. fumigatus strains are of particular concern, and there is a pressing need to understand the origin, dispersal and long‐term evolution of drug resistance in this organism. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity and putative origins of triazole resistance of A. fumigatus from India. Eighty‐nine isolates, including 51 multiple triazole resistant ( MTR ) isolates and 38 azole‐susceptible isolates, were genotyped using multilocus sequence typing ( MLST ), mating typing and PCR fingerprinting. MLST resolved the 51 MTR isolates into three genotypes, two of which have susceptible counterparts, suggesting that MTR isolates originated multiple times in India. The multiple‐origin hypothesis was further supported by the diversity of sequences at the triazole target gene CYP 51A among the MTR isolates, and by PCR fingerprints. Interestingly, there is abundant evidence for mating and recombination in natural population of A. fumigatus in India, suggesting that sexual spread of TR 34 /L98H, the dominant MTR allele, is possible. Our results call for greater attention to MTR in A. fumigatus and for better management of antifungal drug use.