Mapping of Aspergillus species and corresponding chemoresistance in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region: A One Health approach

Author:

Laurence Delhaes (FR)

Abstract:

Background: The importance of Aspergillus sp. has been clearly demonstrated in both human and animal health, but the emergence of resistance to azole antifungals, particularly in Aspergillus fumigatus, is increasingly important and has been described, and is part of a One Health approach. Monitoring antifungal resistance has become a major issue in the context of the emergence of Aspergillus resistance especially in relation to environmental exposure potentially linked to the use of pesticides as described in several northern European countries. In this context, the question of the emergence of Aspergillus resistance and its study is a central point in the activities of the CNR (national reference center), for which our expertise has been recognized for chronic aspergillosis.
Data integrating the epidemiology of the different Aspergillus species, their circulation in the environment, their resistance and its mechanisms remain limited and virtually non-existent in Nouvelle Aquitaine (NA, South-West, France), while the phenotypic evolution (including sensitivity to antifungal drugs, estimated at 5-10% in human health) of Aspergillus isolates occurs in response to different pressures including environment ones.In this context, the aim is to establish a map of Aspergillus species and their resistance to antifungal agents, particularly to azoles, in NA throughout a One Health approach.
In terms of methodology, we propose to:
– Carry out in vitro cultures of human, animal and plant samples, in agreement with the temporo-spatial and One Health approach proposed in this program,
– Characterize phenotypically Aspergillus isolates, including sensitivity to antifungal agents,
– Characterize genotypically Aspergillus isolates by sequencing genes of interest (in particular the ITS, beta-tubulin, calmodulin, elongation factor, 28S genes, as well as genes involved in chemoresistance (Cyp51 A-C …)).
– Identify and study at phylogenetic/taxonomic levels Aspergillus isolates responsible for specific situations (i.e. isolates with an unusual resistance profile or species associated with a specific One Health situation),
– Develop an NGS typing technique to characterize isolates associated with a specific One Health situation (SSRseq, WGS …).
– Analyze the whole mycological data in relation to the One Health sampling metadata.
Expected results are:
– Mapping of species of the genus Aspergillus present in NA
– Describing the in vitro chemoresistance of these species and their One Health distribution
– Documenting over time the circulation of these species and the evolution of their chemoresistance, with analysis of the links with the sampling metadata (environmental and Anthropocene’s data).
Conclusions: Better documenting the emergence of and links between Aspergillus isolates circulating in NA in humans, animals and plants and their resistance to antifungal agents (especially to azoles) remains a major research area to anticipate the emergence of new species and/or new resistances. To address this topic, we propose a One Health approach developed in the novel EMERG program we set up.

Abstract Number: 43

Conference Year: 2024

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