Cryptic Candida species among bloodstream isolates: identification and susceptibility pattern to azole drugs

• Grant number: 18/18996-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem
• Grantee: Dality Keffelen de Barros Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/50333-7 - Institutional research development plan of the Instituto Adolfo Lutz (PDIp), AP.PDIP
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/26037-4 - Development of resistance gene primers in Candida haemulonii complex strains, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The genus Candida is among those that cause greater number of infections in the bloodstream, raising a large number of hospitalizations and deaths in several countries around the world. The frequency of cases has grown considerably, particularly, individuals who use immunosuppressants, or who have undergone invasive procedures or, even, associated with low birth weight or certain basic diseases such as haematological disorders, Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), among others. Candida species, as a rule, do not differentiate morphologically, hindering their diagnosis in the laboratory routine by morphological analysis; Therefore, phenotypic evidence based on microscopy should be supplemented with biochemical evidence of assimilation and, mainly, molecular tests of DNA for correct determination of the species. The accurate identification of the etiology of the Candidemia meets the demand of the infected cases and also as an important allowance for epidemiological studies on the distribution of species in a given period and place. Molecular analyses allow discriminating species, whose phenotypes are very similar or identical. This study aimed: i) to select 100 bloodstream isolates, from patients attended in hospitals located in São Paulo State, with phenotypes belonging to 4 species complexes: C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. haemulonii; ii) determine the cryptics species of such complexes, using molecular tools, III) assess susceptibility to fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B. (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)

RODRIGUES, DALITY KEFFELEN DE BARROS; LOCKHART, SHAWN R.; BERKOW, ELIZABETH L.; GADE, LALITHA; BONFIETTI, LUCAS XAVIER; GIMENES, VIVIANE MAZO FAVERO; RUIZ, LUCIANA SILVA; MACIONI, MILENA BRONZE; MELHEM, MARCIA DE SOUZA CARVALHO. Whole-genome sequencing of Candida haemulonii species complex from Brazil and the United States: Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility. Medical Mycology, v. 61, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2023-04-03. (19/26037-4, 18/18996-9, 17/50333-7)

RODRIGUES, D. K. B.; BONFIETTI, L. X.; GARCIA, R. A.; ARAUJO, M. R.; RODRIGUES, J. S.; GIMENES, V. M. F.; MELHEM, M. S. C.. Antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida clinical isolates from 22 hospitals of São Paulo State, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 54, n. 9, 2021. (17/50333-7, 18/18996-9)