Aspergillus fumigatus, Environmental Isolates from Southeast USA

Aspergillus fumigatus WGS of environmental isolates from agricultural settings in Southeast USA. Strains were screened for azole resistance as part of a survey to identify isolates with azole resistance originating from agricultural settings.Study goals were to determine if resistance to clinical azole antifungals might have an agricultural origin. WGS were analyzed for mutation in cyp51A and genes in ergosterol pathway which azoles target. In addition, genomes were analyzed for resistance markers associated with commonly used agricultural fungicides for presence of off target impact on environmental isolates.Results of this study suggest that Aspergillus fumigatus, also a human pathogen, can pick up resistance to a broad spectrum of agricultural fungicides in the environment which results in resistance to clinical antifungals upon infection of humans.