Exposure of Candida parapsilosis complex to agricultural azoles: An overview of the role of environmental determinants for the development of resistance

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 650; no. Pt 1; pp. 1231 - 1238
• Main Authors: Brilhante, Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira, Alencar, Lucas Pereira de, Bandeira, Silviane Praciano, Sales, Jamille Alencar, Evangelista, Antônio José de Jesus, Serpa, Rosana, Cordeiro, Rossana de Aguiar, Pereira-Neto, Waldemiro de Aquino, Sidrim, José Júlio Costa, Castelo-Branco, Débora de Souza Collares Maia, Rocha, Marcos Fábio Gadelha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.02.2019
• Subjects: Agricultural azoles; Cross-resistance; One Health; Plasticity; Tolerance; Tolerance; Cross-resistance; Plasticity; Agricultural azoles; One Health
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.096

This work investigated the phenotypic behavior of Candida parapsilosis species complex in response to exposure to agricultural azoles and fluconazole. Three fluconazole-susceptible strains of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis were used. Initial minimum inhibitory concentrations (iMICs) for agricultural and clinical azoles were determined by broth microdilution. Then, the strains were exposed to tebuconazole, tetraconazole and fluconazole for 15 days, at concentrations that were two-folded daily, starting at one-eighth the iMIC (iMIC/8) up to 64 times iMIC (64xiMIC). After 15-day-exposure, antifungal susceptibility, biofilm formation, CDR, MDR and ERG expression were evaluated. The three cryptic species developed tolerance to the antifungals they were exposed and presented reduction (P < 0.05) in fluconazole susceptibility. In addition, C. parapsilosis sensu stricto and C. metapsilosis also presented reduced susceptibility to voriconazole, after fluconazole exposure. Azole exposure decreased (P < 0.05) biofilm production by C. parapsilosis sensu stricto and C. orthopsilosis and increased (P < 0.05) the expression of ERG11 in all tested strains. The results show that exposure to agricultural azoles and fluconazole induces changes in the phenotypic behavior and gene expression by the three cryptic species of C. parapsilosis complex, highlighting the importance of environmental determinants for the development of antifungal resistance. [Display omitted] •Agricultural azoles increase fluconazole MIC values against the C. parapsilosis complex.•Biofilm production by the C. parapsilosis complex was affected by azoles- exposure•Azole exposure induces changes in the phenotypic behavior of cryptic species•Azole exposure induces changes gene expression of cryptic species•Azole-induced stress tended to alter fungal sterol profile of cryptic species