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Molecular typing, in vitro susceptibility and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex clinical isolates from south‐eastern Brazil
Author(s) -
Grizante Barião Patrícia Helena,
Tonani Ludmilla,
Cocio Tiago Alexandre,
Martinez Roberto,
Nascimento Érika,
von Zeska Kress Marcia Regina
Publication year - 2020
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.13174
Subject(s) - cryptococcus neoformans , cryptococcus gattii , galleria mellonella , virulence , cryptococcosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cryptococcus , restriction fragment length polymorphism , fluconazole , molecular epidemiology , itraconazole , typing , virology , polymerase chain reaction , genotype , antifungal , genetics , gene
Summary Background Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattii species complex is composed of encapsulated yeast species that are causative agents of cryptococcosis. The characterisation of pathogenic Cryptococcus species provides useful data for epidemiological studies as well as the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients. Objectives This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence of 72 clinical strains isolated from cryptococcosis cases between 2012 and 2017 in a tertiary reference hospital in south‐eastern Brazil. Methods Species and molecular types were molecularly assessed by PCR and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the URA5 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI protocols. The virulence was studied in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Results The most frequently isolated strain was C. neoformans molecular type VNI (61/72; 84.7%), although C. neoformans molecular type VNII (3/72; 4.2%) was also isolated. Additionally, C. deuterogattii molecular type VGII (8/72; 11.1%) was present, but most frequently from non‐HIV‐infected patients. Non‐wild‐type phenotype to the antifungals was observed in 26.4% (19/72) of the C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates, and the latter demonstrated higher MIC to fluconazole and itraconazole than C. neoformans clinical isolates. Finally, the virulence of C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates was diverse in G mellonella larvae and uncorrelated with the virulence factors of melanin and capsule. Conclusions The assessment of the spread of cryptococcal species and molecular types as well as the pattern of corresponding antifungal susceptibility and virulence aids in surveil the emergence of resistant strains, ensuring more accurate management of the cryptococcal infection.