Molecular and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry-Based Characterization of Clinically Significant Melanized Fungi in India

• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02413-16
• Publication Date: 2017-01-19T02:20:35Z
• Authors: Ashutosh Singh; Pradeep Kumar Singh; Anil Kumar; Jagdish Chander; Geetika Khanna; Pradip Roy; Jacques F. Meis; Anuradha Chowdhary
• Keywords: Phaeohyphomycosis; Broth microdilution

Melanized or black fungi are a heterogeneous group of causing cutaneous to systemic diseases with high mortality. These rarely reported as agents human infections, primarily due difficulties in their classical identification. In this study, we examined, using molecular methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ioniazation-time flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), the diversity melanized (MF) isolated from patients 19 medical centers India. Overall, during 4-year period, 718 (5.3%) clinical specimens yielded MF. Of these, 72 (10%) isolates had significance were identified by sequencing internal transcribed spacer large subunit (LSU) regions. MF represented 21 genera comprising 29 species, majority them belonging orders Pleosporales (50%) Chaetothyriales (22%). Among fungal species only 6 (20%) MALDI-TOF MS limited commercial database Bruker Daltonics for However, 100% identification rate 20 additional study was obtained constructing an in-house 24- 96-h-old liquid cultures. Further, CLSI broth microdilution method revealed low MICs posaconazole (≤1 μg/ml) voriconazole (≤2 96% 95% isolates, respectively. Skin/subcutaneous sino-nasal pulmonary phaeohyphomycosis diagnosed 21.4% (n = 15) 28.5% 20) cases. Also, 10% central nervous system involvement 7), 3 cases osteomyelitis Cladophialophora bantiana Corynespora spp. observed.