Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical and environmental isolates of Cryptococcus gattii in the State of São Paulo

• Grant number: 10/04508-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem
• Grantee: Dayane Cristina da Silva Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cryptococcus gattii is an encapsulated yeast that causes pulmonary cryptococcosis and systemic, with tropism for central nervous system of immunocompetent patients, or not. The identification of environmental sources is needed to evaluate sources of exposure to this agent to identify the genetic and phenotypic members of this species and to investigate resistance to antifungal agents. The isolation of this fungus can be made from branches and hollows of trees and leaves and characterization of the species should be performed by molecular typing. Tests of sensitivity to different concentrations of antifungal agents are needed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of drugs. The study is to evaluate clinical and environmental strains of C. gattii. This study will examine the frequency of phenotypes of resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B for the reference method for microdilution. Curves of death will be processed to investigate the in vitro fungicidal action of amphotericin B. The genotypes of the agent will be determined by PCR-RFLP. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVA, DAYANE C.; MARTINS, MARILENA A.; SZESZS, MARIA WALDEREZ; BONFIETTI, LUCAS X.; MATOS, DULCILENA; MELHEM, MARCIA S. C.. Susceptibility to antifungal agents and genotypes of Brazilian clinical and environmental Cryptococcus gattii strains. DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, v. 72, n. 4, p. 332-339, APR 2012. (10/04508-0)