Genetic diversity of Aspergillus species isolated from onychomycosis and Aspergillus hongkongensis sp. nov., with implications to antifungal susceptibility testing.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2016/2;84(2):125-34.
Tsang CC[1], Hui TW[2], Lee KC[1], Chen JH[1], Ngan AH[1], Tam EW[1], Chan JF[3], Wu AL[1], Cheung M[4], Tse BP[5], Wu AK[6], Lai CK[7], Tsang DN[7], Que TL[8], Lam CW[9], Yuen KY[3], Lau SK[10], Woo PC[11]
Affiliations
PMID: 26658315
Impact factor: 2.983
Abstract
Thirteen Aspergillus isolates recovered from nails of 13 patients (fingernails, n=2; toenails, n=11) with onychomycosis were characterized. Twelve strains were identified by multilocus sequencing as Aspergillus spp. (Aspergillus sydowii [n=4], Aspergillus welwitschiae [n=3], Aspergillus terreus [n=2], Aspergillus flavus [n=1], Aspergillus tubingensis [n=1], and Aspergillus unguis [n=1]). Isolates of A. terreus, A. flavus, and A. unguis were also identifiable by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The 13th isolate (HKU49(T)) possessed unique morphological characteristics different from other Aspergillus spp. Molecular characterization also unambiguously showed that HKU49(T) was distinct from other Aspergillus spp. We propose the novel species Aspergillus hongkongensis to describe this previously unknown fungus. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed most Aspergillus isolates had low MICs against itraconazole and voriconazole, but all Aspergillus isolates had high MICs against fluconazole. A diverse spectrum of Aspergillus species is associated with onychomycosis. Itraconazole and voriconazole are probably better drug options for Aspergillus onychomycosis.
Keywords: Aspergillus; Aspergillus hongkongensis sp. nov.; MALDI-TOF MS; Metabolic fingerprinting; Onychomycosis; Sequencing
MeSH terms
Adult; Aged; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillus; Female; Genetic Variation; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Onychomycosis; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
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