title: Itraconazole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: Invasive aspergillosis is an increasingly frequent opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Only two agents, amphotericin B and itraconazole, are licensed for therapy. Itraconazole acts through inhibition of a P-450 enzyme undertaking sterol 14alpha demethylation. In vitro resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus to itraconazole correlated with in vivo outcome has not been previously described. For three isolates (AF72, AF90, and AF91) of A. fumigatus from two patients with invasive aspergillosis itraconazole MICs were elevated. A neutropenic murine model was used to establish the validity of the MICs. The isolates were typed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Analysis of sterols, inhibition of cell-free sterol biosynthesis from [14C] mevalonate, quantitation of P-450 content, and [3H]itraconazole concentration in mycelial pellets were used to determine the mechanisms of resistance. The MICs for the three resistant isolates were >16 microg/ml. In vitro resistance was confirmed in vivo for all three isolates. Molecular typing showed the isolates from the two patients to be genetically distinct. Compared to the susceptible isolate from patient 1, AF72 had a reduced ergosterol content, greater quantities of sterol intermediates, a similar susceptibility to itraconazole in cell-free ergosterol biosynthesis, and a reduced intracellular [3H]itraconazole concentration. In contrast, AF91 and AF92 had slightly higher ergosterol and lower intermediate sterol concentrations, fivefold increased resistance in cell-free systems to the effect of itraconazole on sterol 14alpha demethylation, and intracellular [3H] itraconazole concentrations found in susceptible isolates. Resistance to itraconazole in A. fumigatus is detectable in vitro and is present in wild-type isolates, and at least two mechanisms of resistance are responsible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (Monsall Unit), North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkateswarlu
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Oakley
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Warnock
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole