Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto genetic diversity from cystic fibrosis patients

Abstract

We aimed to access the genetic diversity of Apergillus fumigatus strains obtained from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from southern Brazil. A. fumigatus sensu stricto isolates from respiratory clinical specimens were genotyped by microsatellite markers and azole resistance was evaluated by azole-agar screening. Twenty-seven isolates from twenty-seven patients showed a high genetic diversity, with the differentiation of 25 different genotypes (25 unique and one common to two isolates). All isolates were susceptible to the azoles tested. We believe that prospectively monitoring A. fumigatus genetic diversity is essential to identify interpatient transmission and outbreaks, as is the identification of resistant strains.

Keywords

• Microsatellite markers
• Chronic aspergillosis
• Molecular mycology