Molecular Typing, In Vitro Susceptibility And Virulence Of Cryptococcus Neoformans/Cryptococcus Gattii Species Complex Clinical Isolates From South-Eastern Brazil

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattiispecies complex is composed of encapsulated yeast species that are causative agents of cryptococcosis. The characterisation of pathogenicCryptococcusspecies provides useful data for epidemiological studies as well as the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients.Objectives: This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence of 72 clinical strains isolated from cryptococcosis cases between 2012 and 2017 in a tertiary reference hospital in south-eastern Brazil.Methods: Species and molecular types were molecularly assessed by PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the URA5 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI protocols. The virulence was studied in aGalleria mellonellainfection model.Results: The most frequently isolated strain wasC. neoformansmolecular type VNI (61/72; 84.7%), although C. neoformans molecular type VNII (3/72; 4.2%) was also isolated. Additionally,C. deuterogattiimolecular type VGII (8/72; 11.1%) was present, but most frequently from non-HIV-infected patients. Non-wild-type phenotype to the antifungals was observed in 26.4% (19/72) of theC. neoformansandC. deuterogattiiclinical isolates, and the latter demonstrated higher MIC to fluconazole and itraconazole thanC. neoformansclinical isolates. Finally, the virulence ofC. neoformansandC. deuterogattiiclinical isolates was diverse inG mellonellalarvae and uncorrelated with the virulence factors of melanin and capsule.Conclusions: The assessment of the spread of cryptococcal species and molecular types as well as the pattern of corresponding antifungal susceptibility and virulence aids in surveil the emergence of resistant strains, ensuring more accurate management of the cryptococcal infection.