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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, June 2004, p. 2124-2131, Vol. 48, No. 6
0066-4804/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.48.6.2124-2131.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Application of Real-Time Quantitative PCR to Molecular Analysis of Candida albicans Strains Exhibiting Reduced Susceptibility to Azoles
Andrew S. Chau, Cara A. Mendrick, Frank J. Sabatelli, David Loebenberg, and Paul M. McNicholas*
Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033
Received 27 October 2003/
Returned for modification 9 December 2003/
Accepted 12 February 2004
Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure expression levels of genes encoding efflux pumps, ERG11 and two control genes, ACT1 and PMA1, in a collection of 14 fluconazole-susceptible Candida albicans isolates. For each gene, average expression levels and variations within the population were determined. These values were then used as reference points to make predictions about the molecular basis of resistance in 38 clinical isolates (the majority of which were resistant to fluconazole) obtained from 18 patients treated with posaconazole for refractory oropharyngeal candidiasis. For each of the 38 isolates, the expression levels of genes encoding efflux pumps, ERG11 and the control genes, were measured as above. Comparison of the two data sets revealed that expression of ACT1 and PMA1 did not vary significantly between the two sets of isolates. In contrast, MDR1, ERG11, CDR1, and CDR2 were overexpressed in 3, 4, 14, and 35, respectively, of the isolates from patients treated with azoles. In addition to these changes, the patient isolates all had at least one and often multiple missense mutations in ERG11. Select ERG11 alleles were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; all of the alleles tested conferred reduced susceptibility to fluconazole. Despite both the increases in pump expression and the ERG11 mutations, only one of the patient isolates exhibited a large decrease in posaconazole susceptibility.
* Corresponding author: Mailing address: Schering-Plough Research Institute, 2015 Galloping Hill Rd., K15.4-4700, Kenilworth, NJ 07033. Phone: (908) 740 7644. Fax: (908) 740 3918. E-mail:
paul.mcnicholas{at}spcorp.com.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, June 2004, p. 2124-2131, Vol. 48, No. 6
0066-4804/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.48.6.2124-2131.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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