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Molecular Detection of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates Carrying TR34/L98H Mutations in Soil Samples from the Critical Hospitals

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Abstract

Purpose: Azole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates is recognised as an emerging problem worldwide. The higher use of azole fungicides in agriculture are functionally related with the azole resistance. The mutations in cyp51A gene is the principal mechanism of resistance among A. fumigatus isolates. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the current status of the azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates obtained from the hospital environment. Methods: A total of 120 soil samples were collected from two university hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A. fumigatus isolates were identified using DNA sequencing of the partial β‑tubulin gene. The in Institute document (CLSI) M38-A2 and resistance mechanisms were investigated with the use of cyp51A genome sequencing on the azole resistance isolates. Results: 29 (24%) isolates were identified as A. fumigatus, 16 of which were recognized as azole-resistant. Five azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates harbored the TR34/L98H allele, and the remaining had no mutation in the cyp51A gene. However, other point mutations, i.e., TR46/Y121F/T289A, F46Y, G54 W, Y121F, G138 C, M172 V, F219 C, M220I, D255E, T289F, G432 C, and G448S, were not detected in the cyp51A gene. Conclusions: This study is of public health concern and need to develop new classes, effective and safe fungicides in agriculture that inhibits cross-resistance development resistance in clinical practice.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank all of the people who have contributed to the collection of samples and their assistance during the study namely Mohammad Reza Safari.

Funding

This work was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), grant no. 1400-1-99-52676.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

    Zahra Vaghar & Azar Sabokbar

  2. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sadegh Khodavaisy

  3. Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Hamid Badali

  4. Invasive Fungi Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Hamid Badali

  5. Zoonoses Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sadegh Khodavaisy

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  1. Zahra Vaghar
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Correspondence to Sadegh Khodavaisy or Azar Sabokbar.

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Zahra Vaghar, Khodavaisy, S., Badali, H. et al. Molecular Detection of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates Carrying TR34/L98H Mutations in Soil Samples from the Critical Hospitals. Mol. Genet. Microbiol. Virol. 37, 49–53 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0891416822010074

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