International partnership for the assessment of the genetic heterogeneity of Trichosporon spp. clinical isolates and their impact on taxonomy, biology and species identification

• Grant number: 20/14097-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 15, 2021
• End date: March 14, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
• Grantee: Elaine Cristina Francisco Del Ciello
• Supervisor: Ferry Hagen
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/24960-0 - International partnership for the evaluation of genetic heterogeneity of Trichosporon sp. clinical isolates and impact on taxonomy, biology and species identification, BP.PD

Abstract

Trichosporon species are yeast-like fungi that have been reported as the second/third most common cause of fungemia in patients with hematological malignancies. Despite the large intraspecific diversity already described for T. asahii (15 genotypes), and T. faecale (3 genotypes), the biological relevance of these genotypes in the human infections is still unclear. Based on the molecular characterization of a large number of Trichosporon spp. genotypes co-circulating in several Brazilian regions previously characterized by our laboratory, we established an international partnership with the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute to explore the biological impact of this intraspecific diversity in the taxonomy, epidemiology, and natural history of infections caused by this fungal pathogen. Microbiological investigations will be performed by AFLP DNA fingerprint, sequencing of different loci, whole-genome sequencing, antifungal susceptibility tests, and assessment of virulence factors in Galleria mellonella larvae. The development of molecular tools for early detection of T. asahii isolates in biological samples will also be performed. The data set generated by this research project will contribute to consolidate concepts in the biology, epidemiology, and taxonomy of this genus, as well as to collaborate for the development of molecular diagnostic tools for detecting Trichosporon spp. in different biologic samples. (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)

FRANCISCO, ELAINE CRISTINA; DIELEMAN, CHENDO; HAGEN, FERRY; COLOMBO, ARNALDO LOPES; TRICHOSPORON BRAZILIAN NETWORK. In vitro activity of isavuconazole against clinically relevant Trichosporon species: a comparative evaluation of EUCAST broth microdilution and MIC Test Strip methods. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, v. N/A, p. 6-pg., 2023-01-26. (20/14097-0, 19/24960-0)

FRANCISCO, ELAINE CRISTINA; EBBING, MEXX; COLOMBO, ARNALDO LOPES; HAGEN, FERRY; TRICHOSPORON BRAZILIAN NETWORK. Identification of Clinical Trichosporon asteroides Strains by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry: Evaluation of the Bruker Daltonics Commercial System and an In-House Developed Library. Mycopathologia, v. 188, n. 3, p. 7-pg., 2023-04-15. (19/24960-0, 20/14097-0)