Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates
Understanding the interplay between antifungal resistance, stress adaptation, and virulence in <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> is critical for more effective treatment outcomes. In this study, we investigate six clinical isolates of <i>A. fumigatus</i> from the hospitals of the...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Ivana Segéňová Ján Víglaš Tomáš Pagáč Petra Olejníková |
| author_facet | Ivana Segéňová Ján Víglaš Tomáš Pagáč Petra Olejníková |
| author_sort | Ivana Segéňová |
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| description | Understanding the interplay between antifungal resistance, stress adaptation, and virulence in <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> is critical for more effective treatment outcomes. In this study, we investigate six clinical isolates of <i>A. fumigatus</i> from the hospitals of the Czech Republic, focusing on their resistance profiles, stress responses, and survival mechanisms under antifungal pressure. Notably, we have shown that azole-susceptible strains were able to form persister cells under supra-MIC concentrations, highlighting an emerging non-genetic survival mechanism. Stress response profiling demonstrated differential susceptibility to agents targeting signal transduction pathways, as principal component analysis proved that even azole-resistant strains might rely on these pathways. Combinatorial treatment with posaconazole and dithiothreitol enhanced antifungal efficacy regardless of the susceptibility of the strains. Fitness assays revealed that azole resistance imposed a competitive disadvantage in azole-free conditions. In vivo virulence assessment in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae revealed strain-specific pathogenicity that did not directly correlate with resistance. Together, our findings illustrate the multifactorial nature of fungal survival and emphasize that stress adaptation, tolerance, and persistence significantly affect treatment efficacy and outcomes, even in the absence of classical resistance mechanisms. Targeting stress response pathways emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of existing antifungal agents and manage resistance in <i>A. fumigatus</i>. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36b4699bb998409fb37072cfdb5ab2c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-36b4699bb998409fb37072cfdb5ab2c82025-08-20T03:27:21ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-06-0111642810.3390/jof11060428Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> IsolatesIvana Segéňová0Ján Víglaš1Tomáš Pagáč2Petra Olejníková3Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 812 37 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 812 37 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 812 37 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, 812 37 Bratislava, SlovakiaUnderstanding the interplay between antifungal resistance, stress adaptation, and virulence in <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> is critical for more effective treatment outcomes. In this study, we investigate six clinical isolates of <i>A. fumigatus</i> from the hospitals of the Czech Republic, focusing on their resistance profiles, stress responses, and survival mechanisms under antifungal pressure. Notably, we have shown that azole-susceptible strains were able to form persister cells under supra-MIC concentrations, highlighting an emerging non-genetic survival mechanism. Stress response profiling demonstrated differential susceptibility to agents targeting signal transduction pathways, as principal component analysis proved that even azole-resistant strains might rely on these pathways. Combinatorial treatment with posaconazole and dithiothreitol enhanced antifungal efficacy regardless of the susceptibility of the strains. Fitness assays revealed that azole resistance imposed a competitive disadvantage in azole-free conditions. In vivo virulence assessment in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae revealed strain-specific pathogenicity that did not directly correlate with resistance. Together, our findings illustrate the multifactorial nature of fungal survival and emphasize that stress adaptation, tolerance, and persistence significantly affect treatment efficacy and outcomes, even in the absence of classical resistance mechanisms. Targeting stress response pathways emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of existing antifungal agents and manage resistance in <i>A. fumigatus</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/428<i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>resistanceazolespersistencetolerancestress response |
| spellingShingle | Ivana Segéňová Ján Víglaš Tomáš Pagáč Petra Olejníková Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates Journal of Fungi <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> resistance azoles persistence tolerance stress response |
| title | Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates |
| title_full | Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates |
| title_fullStr | Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates |
| title_short | Adaptation Under Pressure: Resistance and Stress Response Interplay in Clinical <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Isolates |
| title_sort | adaptation under pressure resistance and stress response interplay in clinical i aspergillus fumigatus i isolates |
| topic | <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> resistance azoles persistence tolerance stress response |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/428 |
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