Microsatellite genotyping of clinical Candida parapsilosis isolates

Molecular Characterization of Candida parapsilosis by Microsatellite Typing and Emergence of Clonal Antifungal Drug Resistant Strains in a Multicenter Surveillance in China

Candida parapsilosis is an important species causing invasive candidiasis (IC) in China. The present survey was a national multicenter study of the molecular epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility profiles of C. parapsilosis. Non-duplicate C. parapsilosis isolates were collected from 10 hospitals across China in the CHIF-NET program 2016–2017. Isolates were genotyped using four highly polymorphic microsatellite markers, and susceptibility profiles determined using Sensititre YeastOne^TM YO10. A total of 319 C. parapsilosis from separate patients with IC were studied; 49.2, 17.9, and 10.3% isolates were from patients in surgical departments, general intensive care units (ICUs) and neonatal ICUs (NICU), respectively. C. parapsilosis showed good susceptibility to nine antifungal drugs. Microsatellite analysis identified 122 microsatellite (MT) types. Most MT types had sporadic distribution. However, we identified 32 clusters across 10 hospitals; seven clusters were caused by seven endemic genotypes involving five or more isolates in hospitals designated as H01, H02, H06, and H10. These clusters mainly affected surgical departments and ICUs, except for genotype MT42 which was seen in 22 patients from NICU (hospital H06). Of 16 fluconazole-resistant isolates, seven from hospital H02 shared the same genotype MT70, and three from hospital H04 were of genotype MT47. For 37 isolates with non-wild type MICs to 5-flucytosine, 29 were from hospital H01 (genotype MT48). Here we present the first nationwide molecular epidemiology study of C. parapsilosis in China, identified several previously unrecognized clusters, which included antifungal drug resistant isolates. These findings provide important data for control of IC in China.

Comparative in vitro activities of seven antifungal drugs against clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis complex

OBJECTIVE

Candida parapsilosis species complex, an important set of non-albicans Candida species, is known to cause candidaemia particularly in neonates and infants. However, the incidence has increased in recent years, owing to higher numbers of at individuals at risk for these infections. Our objective was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of C. parapsilosis complex isolates from Iran to seven antifungal drugs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred-one clinical isolates of C. parapsilosis species complex cultured from humans were included. Species identification had been previously confirmed by combined phenotypic characteristics, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry-based assay and reconfirmed by DNA sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA region and D1/D2 gene. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, micafungin and anidulafungin were determined against well-characterized isolates by broth microdilution susceptibility testing according to the CLSI M27-A3 guideline.

RESULTS

Species identifications were performed on 101 isolates, of which 88 (87.2%) C. parapsilosis sensu stricto and 13 (12.8%) C. orthopsilosis. Amphotericin B and posaconazole were the most active drugs with 100% of isolates being wild-type (WT). Voriconazole and micafungin, 99% of isolates were WT. The low activity was recorded for fluconazole and itraconazole with 93.1% and 89.1% of isolates being WT, respectively. At the species level, all Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates were WT to amphotericin B and posaconazole and all Candida orthopsilosis isolates were WT to amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, anidulafungin and micafungin. In contrast, the highest rate of non-WT was observed in C. orthopsilosis to itraconazole (4 of 13, 30.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although almost all of the tested drugs demonstrated potent activity against C. parapsilosis species complex, it seems that more especially C. orthopsilosis isolates had decreased susceptibility to itraconazole. Further studies are needed to determine how these findings may switch into in vivo efficacy.

Antifungal susceptibility pattern and biofilm-related genes expression in planktonic and biofilm cells of Candida parapsilosis species complex

Background and Purpose:

Candida parapsilosis complex isolates are mainly responsible for nosocomial catheter-related infection in immunocompromised patients. Biofilm formation is regarded as one of the most pertinent key virulence factors in the development of these emerging infections. The present study aimed to compare in vitro antifungal susceptibility patterns and biofilm-related genes expression ratio in planktonic and biofilm’s cells of clinically C. parapsilosis complex isolates.

Materials and Methods:

The current study was conducted on a number of 17 clinical C. parapsilosis complex (10 C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 5 C. orthopsilosis, and 2 C. metapsilosis). The antifungal susceptibility patterns of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and caspofungin in planktonic and biofilm forms were closely examined using CLSI M27-A3 broth microdilution method. The expression levels of biofilm-related genes (BCR1, EFG1, and FKS1) were evaluated in planktonic and biofilm’s cells using Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.

Results:

The obtained results indicated that all C. parapsilosis complex isolates were able to produce high and moderate amounts of biofilm forms. In addition, the sessile minimum inhibitory concentrations were reported to be high for fluconazole (≥ 64 µg/ml), itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole (≥ 16 µg/ml), as compared to planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between antifungal susceptibility patterns for all azole antifungal agents (P<0.05). Furthermore, the BCR1 overexpression was considered significant in biofilms with regard to planktonic cells in C. parapsilosis species complex (P=0.002).

Conclusion:

C. parapsilosis complex isolates were found susceptible to most of the tested antifungal drugs, while biofilms demonstrated a noticeable resistant to azoles. The marked discrepancy noted in antifungal susceptibility patterns among these species should be highlighted to achieve effective therapeutic treatment.

In vitro synergy of echinocandins with triazoles against fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis complex isolates

INTRODUCTION

Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) is a common non-albicans Candida species ranked as the second common cause of bloodstream infections. Azole resistance and elevated echinocandin MICs have been reported for these fungi. This study was conducted to determine the interactions between azoles and echinocandins against C. parapsilosis species complex.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates of C. parapsilosis complex were included: C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (n = 7), C. orthopsilosis (n = 5) and C. metapsilosis (n = 3). The activity of azoles (fluconazole, itraconazole) and echinocandins (anidulafungin, micafungin) alone and in combination was determined using checkerboard broth microdilution. The results were determined based on the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI).

RESULTS

In vitro combination of fluconazole with anidulafungin was found to be synergistic (FICI 0.07-0.37) and decreased the MIC range from 4-64 μg/mL to 0.5-16 μg/mL for fluconazole and from 2-8 μg/mL to 0.125-1 μg/mL for anidulafungin. Similarly, interactions of fluconazole with micafungin (FICI 0.25-0.5), itraconazole with anidulafungin (FICI 0.15-0.37) and itraconazole with micafungin (FICI 0.09-0.37) were synergistic.

CONCLUSION

The combination of fluconazole and itraconazole with either anidulafungin or micafungin demonstrated synergistic interactions against C. parapsilosis species complex, especially against isolates with elevated MIC values. However, the use of these combinations in clinical practice and the clinical relevance of in vitro combination results remain unclear.