Clinical azole cross-resistance in Candida parapsilosis is related to a novel MRR1 gain-of-function mutation

Autores da FMUP

• Isabel Alexandra Marcos Miranda

  Autor

• Acácio Agostinho Gonçalves Rodrigues

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Branco, J
• Ryan, AP
• Silva, APE
• Butler, G

Unidades de investigação

• Cirurgia e Fisiologia

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• Patologia

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Objectives: Hereby, we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition of azole resistance by a Candida parapsilosis isolate following fluconazole treatment due to candiduria. Methods: A set of three consecutive C. parapsilosis isolates were recovered from the urine samples of a patient with candiduria. Whole-genome sequencing and antifungal susceptibility assays were performed. The expression of MRR1, MDR1, ERG11 and CDR1B (CPAR2_304370) was quantified by RT-qPCR. Results: The initial isolate CPS-A was susceptible to all three azoles tested (fluconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole); isolate CPS-B, collected after the second cycle of treatment, exhibited a susceptible-dose edependent phenotype to fluconazole and isolate CPS-C, recovered after the third cycle, exhibited a cross-resistance profile to fluconazole and voriconazole. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a putative resistance mechanism in isolate CPS-C, associated with a G1810A nucleotide substitution, leading to a G604R change in the Mrr1p transcription factor. Introducing this mutation into the susceptible CPS-A isolate (MRR1RI) resulted in resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole, as well as up-regulation of MRR1 and MDR1. Interestingly, the susceptible-doseedependent phenotype exhibited by isolate CPS-B was associated with an increased copy number of the CDR1B gene. The expression of CDR1B was increased in both isolates CPS-B and CPS-C and in the MRR1RI strain, harbouring the gain-of-function mutation. Conclusions: Our results describe clinical azole cross-resistance acquisition in C. parapsilosis due to a G1810A (G604R) gain-of-function mutation, resulting in MRR1 hyperactivation and consequently, MDR1 efflux pump overexpression. We also associated amplification of the CDR1B gene with decreased fluconazole susceptibility and showed that it is a putative target of the MRR1 gain-of-function mutation. Joana Branco, Clin Microbiol Infect 2022;28:1655.e5e1655.e8

Keywords

• Azole resistance; Candida parapsilosis; Candiduria; CDR1B,CPAR2_304370; Ergosterol biosynthesis pathway; Gain-of-function mutation; MRR1,Multidrug efflux transporters; Gene copy number variation