Detection of Cpy-2, Fks and Erg 11 Genes in Fungal Isolates from Sars Cov-2 Individual in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

A considerable number of fungal strains have developed resistant to various available antifungal agents due to CPY, FKS and or ERG11 genes complicating coinfection cases of SAR COV-2 virus. Therefore, this study sought to isolate, identify azole and polyene resistant genes in fungal pathogens isolated from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 individual in Oyo State, Nigeria. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected adult from September, 2020 to April, 2021. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar at room and at 37 oC temperature for 7days. Identification of the fungal isolates were performed using MALDITOF MS VITEK. Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AFST) were performed using Kirby bauer disc diffusion method. The resistant genes in fugal isolates were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction with specific primers and resistant genes were amplified using agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of 63(15.8%) fungal isolates recorded from 400 samples collected, Asipergillus flavus 11(17.5%), Aspergillus niger 9(14.3%), Candida albicans 7(11.1%), Candida guillermondii 2(3.2%), Candida parapsilosis 2(3.2%), Candida famata 2(3.2%), Candida tropicalis 5(7.9%) and Lodderomyces elongisporus 25(39%) having highest frequency were recorded respectively. Nystatin (84.1%) had highest susceptibility testing and Ketoconazole (39.7%) had the least phenotypically. 10 (52.6%) isolates possessed CPY gene, 8(42.1%) isolates carried FKS gene, 9(47.4%) isolates had ERG11 gene molecularly.