Molecular characterization and susceptibility profile of Cryptococcus and other yeasts isolated from melanized environment contaminated with azole fungicides

• Grant number: 13/07221-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: July 12, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem
• Grantee: Juliana Possatto Takahashi
• Host Institution: Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The presence of melanin in fungi is related to virulence. In melanization occurs in yeast Cryptococcus species and a group called Black Yeast Fungi (BYF) many of these agents are important causes of serious and invasive mycoses. Cryptococcosis and feo-hifomicoses BYF are acquired by inhalation, or trauma followed by penetration of these particles infectious agents present in a wide variety of substrates environment. The environmental strains are exposed continually to the great diversity of conditions of anthropogenic pollution. The azole compounds are chemicals used extensively in agriculture as fungicides and as antifungal drugs in clinical medicine. In the 90s, acquired resistance to azole drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, etc.) was unusual in yeast. Since then, a growing number of citations on occurrence of strains resistant to one or more of these medications. The reasons for the emergence of this phenomenon, with important clinical implications, are only partially explained and related to the frequent use of fluconazole for preventive or therapeutic regimens. Similarly, the widespread use of fungicides could exert selective pressure on environmental strains. The objective of this study is to isolate, characterize and determine the molecular profile of susceptibility to fungicides and azole antifungals strains of environmental origin. Will be evaluated strains of Cryptococcus spp. and other melanized yeasts isolated from contaminated environment with azole fungicides. Molecular characterization analysis will be with Internal Trasncription Sequency (ITS) and the susceptibility profile is for reference method for microdilution (CLSI). The study strains of environmental analysis environmental strains exposed to azole pesticides contribute to determining the frequency of resistance to this class of chemical compounds and contribute to the formation of a database to better understanding of the epidemiology of the diseases caused by yeasts melanized. (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)

FERNANDES TAKAHASHI, JULIANA POSSATTO; FELICIANO, LETICIA MARIELLE; SILVA SANTOS, DAYANE CRISTINA; RAMOS, SILEZIA; OLIVEIRA, ROGERIO A.; ATTILI-ANGELIS, DERLENE; RODRIGUES, NADIA REGINA; MELLO SAMPAIO, JORGE LUIZ; MARTINS, MARILENA DOS ANJOS; CARVALHO MELHEM, MARCIA SOUZA. Could Fungicides Lead to Azole Drug Resistance in a Cross-Resistance Manner among Environmental Cryptococcus Strains?. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS, v. 14, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2020-01-30. (13/07221-2)

FERNANDES TAKAHASHI, JULIANA POSSATTO; FELICIANO, LETICIA MARIELLE; SILVA SANTOS, DAYANE CRISTINA; RAMOS, SILEZIA; OLIVEIRA, ROGERIO A.; ATTILI-ANGELIS, DERLENE; RODRIGUES, NADIA REGINA; MELLO SAMPAIO, JORGE LUIZ; MARTINS, MARILENA DOS ANJOS; CARVALHO MELHEM, MARCIA SOUZA. Could Fungicides Lead to Azole Drug Resistance in a Cross-Resistance Manner among Environmental Cryptococcus Strains?. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS, JAN 2020. (13/07221-2)