Analysis of Candida glabrata strains with reduced sensitivity to micafungin in vitro isolated from a patient with persistent Candidemia

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2010 Sep;63(5):332-7.

Abstract

We report the appearance of Candida glabrata strains with reduced sensitivity during treatment with the echinocandin drug micafungin (MCF). Four C. glabrata strains were isolated from sputum, gastric juice, and blood taken from a patient during hospitalization. Two of these strains, one of which was obtained after treatment with MCF for suspected Candida pneumonia and the other of which was obtained during MCF treatment for candidemia, were isolated from blood and found to have a reduced susceptibility to MCF. These two clinical isolates showed a high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for MCF, with this change in MIC being unique for MCF among established antifungal drugs. To further investigate the mechanism underlying this reduced sensitivity, an in vivo mouse infection model and in vitro enzymatic analysis were performed. MCF had little effect in the mouse disseminated infection model and enzymatic analysis showed the low affinity of MCF to the 1,3-Beta-D-glucan synthase of the clinical isolates, although the enzymes of both clinical isolates and control strain were noncompetitively inhibited by MCF. Taken together, this low affinity of MCF for the enzymes is likely to cause the reduced sensitivities. These data further indicate that MCF could induce acquired MCF-resistant strains during clinical use.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Body Temperature
  • Candida glabrata / drug effects*
  • Candida glabrata / isolation & purification
  • Candida glabrata / metabolism
  • Candidemia / drug therapy
  • Candidemia / microbiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Echinocandins / pharmacology*
  • Echinocandins / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Lipopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Micafungin
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • 1,3-beta-glucan synthase
  • Micafungin