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April 25, 2022Nature MicrobiologyOpen Access

Population genomics confirms acquisition of drug-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus infection by humans from the environment

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Authors

JRJohanna RhodesAAAlireza AbdolrasouliKDKatie Dunne

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Overview

Genomic analysis reveals direct transmission of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus from environmental reservoirs to patients, highlighting emerging risks for vulnerable populations.

Key Points

  • Determine whether and how drug-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus infections in patients are directly acquired from environmental reservoirs.
  • Analyzed whole-genome sequences of 218 A. fumigatus isolates across the UK and Ireland, comprising 153 clinical isolates from 143 patients and 65 environmental isolates.
  • Conducted phylogenomic clustering, genome-wide selection scans, and pan-genome association analyses to evaluate transmission pathways and the genetic architecture of azole resistance.
  • Demonstrated strong population structuring into two clades (A and B) with minimal recombination, with clade A harboring the majority of environmental azole resistance.
  • Identified near-identical drug-resistant genotypes across environmental and clinical samples, confirming transmission of resistant strains from nature to humans.
  • Detected selective sweeps within canonical ergosterol biosynthetic genes alongside uncharacterized genomic regions, revealing a polygenic basis for antifungal resistance.

Cite This Study

Rhodes et al. (2022) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a01f3640cec8eebbd5cb753https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01091-2
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