In VitroBiochemical Study of CYP51-Mediated Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe incidence of triazole-resistantAspergillusinfections is increasing worldwide, often mediated through mutations in the CYP51A amino acid sequence. New classes of azole-based drugs are required to combat the increasing resistance to existing triazole therapeutics. In this study, a CYP51 reconstitution assay is described consisting of eburicol, purified recombinantAspergillus fumigatusCPR1 (AfCPR1), andEscherichia colimembrane suspensions containing recombinantA. fumigatusCYP51 proteins, allowingin vitroscreening of azole antifungals. Azole-CYP51 studies determining the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed thatA. fumigatusCYP51B (Af51B IC50, 0.50 μM) was 34-fold more susceptible to inhibition by fluconazole thanA. fumigatusCYP51A (Af51A IC50, 17 μM) and that Af51A and Af51B were equally susceptible to inhibition by voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole (IC50s of 0.16 to 0.38 μM). Af51A-G54W and Af51A-M220K enzymes were 11- and 15-fold less susceptible to inhibition by itraconazole and 30- and 8-fold less susceptible to inhibition by posaconazole than wild-type Af51A, confirming the azole-resistant phenotype of these two Af51A mutations. Susceptibility to voriconazole of Af51A-G54W and Af51A-M220K was only marginally lower than that of wild-type Af51A. Susceptibility of Af51A-L98H to inhibition by voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole was only marginally lower (less than 2-fold) than that of wild-type Af51A. However, Af51A-L98H retained 5 to 8% residual activity in the presence of 32 μM triazole, which could confer azole resistance inA. fumigatusstrains that harbor the Af51A-L98H mutation. The AfCPR1/Af51 assay system demonstrated the biochemical basis for the increased azole resistance ofA. fumigatusstrains harboring G54W, L98H, and M220K Af51A point mutations.