[Cyberlindnera fabianii: first clinical isolate in Chile]. / Cyberlindnera fabianii: primer aislamiento clínico en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Although considered an unusual etiological agent, Cyberlindnera(Candida)fabianii has been related to septicemia in several reports in recent years. Its doubtful or uncertain identification when using tests such as CHROMagar Candida, API® Candida, API® ID32C or VITEK® MS, leads to an underestimation of the cases produced by this yeast. AIMS: To report the first isolation of C. fabianii in Chile and its identification. METHODS: The sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was performed. Antifungal susceptibility profiles were obtained by means of the broth microdilution technique. RESULTS: The identification was only reached by sequencing the ITS regions, which shows the limited usefulness of the conventional techniques in the identification of some yeast species. A dendrogram shows the phylogenetic relationship of the isolated strain with some other yeast species. CONCLUSION: In the identification of fastidious microorganisms or microorganisms whose identification is not completely reliable when using classical or even advanced methodologies, such as mass spectrometry, sequencing techniques are essential.

In vitro activity of isavuconazole against clinically isolated yeasts from Chile.

Isavuconazole is the last antifungal agent approved by the FDA and available for treatment of fungal infections. In the present study, the in vitro activity of isavuconazole against several yeasts was investigated. Two hundred forty-six isolates were included: 64 Candida albicans, 53 Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, 48 Cryptococcus neoformans species complex, 27 C. glabrata sensu stricto, 17 C. lusitaniae, 17 C. tropicalis, 5 C. orthopsilosis, 4 C. krusei, 3 C. guilliermondii sensu stricto, 3 C. pelliculosa, 2 C. dubliniensis, 1 C. auris, 1 C. fermentati and 1 Trichosporon asahii. All isolates were recovered from clinical isolates from Chile, being 221 from hemoculture, 22 from cerebrospinal fluid, 1 pleural fluid, and 1 from tissue culture. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of isavuconazole were determined. Isavuconazole demonstrated good in vitro activity against all species tested. MIC90 values and MFC ranges of isavuconazole for Candida albicans were 0.03 mg/L and 0.03- > 16 mg/L respectively. Non-Candida albicans species isolates were inhibited by ≤ 1 mg/L, with MFC ranges from < 0.03- > 16 mg/L. Also, isavuconazole was active against the non-Candida yeasts, being inhibited with MIC values ≤ 0.06 mg/L. Isavuconazole has exhibited potent in vitro activity against clinical isolates of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans species complex, and other clinical yeast in Chile. Despite the results obtained in the present work, additional clinical studies are necessary to verify the level of efficacy of this azole.

Diferenciación morfofisiológica y molecular por curvas de melting de alta resolución (HRMA) y secuenciación del complejo Trichophyton mentagrophytes en cepas humanas en Valparaíso, Chile Diferenciación morfofisiológica y molecular por HRMA / Morphological and molecular differentiation by high resolution melting curves (HRMA) and sequencing of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex in human strains in Valparaíso, Chile

Resumen Los miembros del complejo Trichophyton mentagrophytes representan el segundo grupo en frecuencia de aislamiento de dermatofitos, luego de Trichophyton rubrum. El citado complejo comprende 3grupos principales: 1) Trichophyton benhamiae y especies relacionadas; 2) Trichophyton simii y 2especies relacionadas, Trichophyton quinckeanum y Trichophyton schoenleinii, y 3) T. mentagrophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale y especies relacionadas. Todos estos organismos son difíciles de identificar a través de la morfofisiología. Se presenta en este informe un estudio descriptivo de 17 cepas clínicas aisladas e identificadas en el Laboratorio de Micología de la Universidad de Valparaíso como pertenecientes al complejo T. mentagrophytes, junto con la caracterización de 3cepas de referencia (T. mentagrophytes CBS 318.56, T. interdigitale CBS 428.63, Trichophyton erinacei CBS 511.73), con el objetivo de clasificarlas a nivel de especie. Se realizaron pruebas morfofisiológicas y moleculares por análisis de curvas de melting de alta resolución (high resolution melting analysis) y secuenciación de regiones ITS. Fenotípicamente, se identificaron 3especies incluidas en el complejo. Los análisis moleculares reclasificaron todas las cepas como pertenecientes a T. interdigitale. En conclusión, no se lograron establecer patrones morfofisiológicos confiables para poder diferenciar entre las especies del complejo.

Abstract Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex is the most frequent agent found in dermatophyte isolates after Trichophyton rubrum. It is divided into 3main groups: (1) Trichophyton benhamiae and related species; (2) Trichophyton simii and 2related species, Trichophyton quinckeanum and Trichophyton schoenleinii; and (3) T. mentagrophytes, T. interdigitale, and related species. They are all difficult to identify by morphophysiology. With the aim of classifying them at the species level, a descriptive study was performed on 17 isolated clinical strains identified in the Mycology Laboratory of the Universidad de Valparaíso as belonging to the T. mentagrophytes complex. They were compared with 3 reference strains (T. mentagrophytes CBS 318.56, T. interdigitale CBS 428.63, Trichophyton erinacei CBS 511.73). Morphophysiological and molecular tests were performed by high resolution melting analysis curves and ITS regions sequencing. Phenotypically, 3 species of the complex were identified. Molecular analyses reclassified all the species as belonging to T. interdigitale. In conclusion, no reliable morphophysiological patterns were established to differentiate between the species of the complex. Molecularly, all the strains studied were classified as T. interdigitale.

[Morphological and molecular differentiation by high resolution melting curves (HRMA) and sequencing of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex in human strains in Valparaíso, Chile]. / Diferenciación morfofisiológica y molecular por curvas de melting de alta resolución (HRMA) y secuenciación del complejo Trichophyton mentagrophytes en cepas humanas en Valparaíso, Chile.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex is the most frequent agent found in dermatophyte isolates after Trichophyton rubrum. It is divided into 3main groups: (1) Trichophyton benhamiae and related species; (2) Trichophyton simii and 2related species, Trichophyton quinckeanum and Trichophyton schoenleinii; and (3) T. mentagrophytes, T. interdigitale, and related species. They are all difficult to identify by morphophysiology. With the aim of classifying them at the species level, a descriptive study was performed on 17 isolated clinical strains identified in the Mycology Laboratory of the Universidad de Valparaíso as belonging to the T. mentagrophytes complex. They were compared with 3 reference strains (T. mentagrophytes CBS 318.56, T. interdigitale CBS 428.63, Trichophyton erinacei CBS 511.73). Morphophysiological and molecular tests were performed by high resolution melting analysis curves and ITS regions sequencing. Phenotypically, 3 species of the complex were identified. Molecular analyses reclassified all the species as belonging to T. interdigitale. In conclusion, no reliable morphophysiological patterns were established to differentiate between the species of the complex. Molecularly, all the strains studied were classified as T. interdigitale.

The chilean network of microbial culture collections: establishment and operation / Red chilena de colecciones de cultivos microbianos: establecimiento y operación

According to the data available at the World Data Center for Microorganism-WDCM from the World Federation for Culture Collection-WFCC, Chile has four registered culture collections that preserve 2777 microbial strains. At the global point of view, the culture collections in Chile are in different level of operation regarding its own infrastructure and compliancy with quality standards for preservation of strains and for services provide. The absence of funding to support the preservation of the Chilean microbial assets is a key issue for the development of the Chilean bioeconomy. Considering this, the Chilean culture collections started working together to establish the Chilean Network of Microbial Culture Collections (RCCCM, acronym in Spanish). In this note, the establishment and operation of the RCCCM is presented and discussed.

De acuerdo con los datos disponibles en el World Data Center for Microorganism-WDCM de la Federación Mundial para la Colección de Cultivos - WFCC, Chile tiene cuatro colecciones de cultivos registradas que preservan 2777 cepas microbianas. Desde el punto de vista global, las colecciones de cultivos en Chile se encuentran en diferentes niveles de operación con respecto a su propia infraestructura y cumplimiento con estándares de calidad para la preservación de las cepas y para los servicios que proporcionan. La ausencia de financiamiento para apoyar la preservación de los activos microbianos chilenos es un tema clave para el desarrollo de la bioeconomía chilena. Considerando esto, las colecciones chilenas de cultivos comenzaron a trabajar conjuntamente para establecer la Red Chilena de Colecciones de Cultivos Microbianos (RCCCM). En esta nota se presenta y discute el establecimiento y funcionamiento de la RCCCM.

El Subphylum Mucoromycotina: generalidades y aspectostaxonómicos recientes / Mucoromycotina Subphylum: overview and recent taxonomic aspects

El subphylum Mucoromycotina es un grupo de hongos ubicuos, saprobios, caracterizados por la presencia de hifas cenocíticas. También se caracterizan por presentar una fase sexual con la formación de una zigospora. Los mucormycetes son capaces de infectar plantas, animales y seres humanos. Recientemente, varios estudios han comunicado de la creciente incidencia de mucormicosis en pacientes inmunocomprometidos e inmunocompetentes. Dados los avances en biología molecular, la sistemática de este grupo de hongos ha experimentado varios cambios taxonómicos en los últimos años. Este artículo discutirá los principales cambios taxonómicos, en especial de los géneros y especies de interés clínico.

The subphylum Mucoromycotina is a group of fungi with several ubiquitous, and saprotrophic species which are characterized by the presence of coenocytic hyphae. Also have a sexual phase characterized by the formation of zygospores. The mucormycetes are able to infect plants, animals and humans. Recently, several studies have reported the increasing incidence of mucormycosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Given the advances in molecular biology, the systematic of this group of fungi has experimented several taxonomical changes. This paper will discuss the major taxonomic changes, particularly of those genera and species of clinical interest.