Table I
The sequences of primers and probes used in RT-qPCR.
| Gene | Primers and probes | |
|---|---|---|
| cyp51A | F | 5’-GCGCGCATGAGGGAGAT-3’ |
| R | 5’-CAATGCATGAGGTTCCAGATCA-3’ | |
| Probe | HEX-TCATTAACGAGCGCCGCAAGAACC-MGB | |
| cyp51B | F | 5’-ATTCGACTCGACATTTGCTGAA-3’ |
| R | 5’-GCATCACGCTTGCGGTTAT-3’ | |
| Probe | FAM-CATGATCTCGACATGGGTTTTGCCC-MGB | |
| ANXC4 | F | 5’-CCAACCCATAAACGCTCTGT-3’ |
| R | 5’-TGGTGGGAATCTTGGAGAAC-3’ | |
| Probe | CY5-ATCGAAGCAGCCTGTCTCAT-MGB | |
Table II
The sequences of primers used in PCR sequencing.
| Gene Primers | ||
|---|---|---|
| cyp51A | AP1F | 5’-ATGGCATCCTTCACTCTCGT-3’ |
| AP1R | 5’-CG ATCAACTTCATGCTTCCG-3’ | |
| AP2F | 5’-TCTGGAACCTCATGCATTGT-3’ | |
| AP2R | 5’-TCCCTCGAAACCAGCAATTA-3’ | |
| AP3F | 5’-GGCAGGGTCGAAATCACGGA-3’ | |
| AP3R | 5’-GCCCGGATGGAAGAACCCTT-3’ | |
| cyp51B | BP1F | 5’-CTTTTATCGGAAGTACCATC-3’ |
| BP1R | 5’-CTTTATCAGGAACAACTTCG-3’ | |
| BP2F | 5’-ACTCTTCGCATACATGCACC-3’ | |
| BP2R | 5’-CCAACGTGCATGATATTGCC-3’ | |
| BP3F | 5’-CGACTCGACATTTGCTGAAC-3’ | |
| BP3R | 5’-CTCTTCGCATACATGCACCA-3’ | |
Table III
Antifungal susceptibility to the azoles, relative quantification of gene expression, gene copy number of cyp51A and cyp51B genes, and mutation in Aspergillus flavus.
| Strain | GenBank accession | Isolation site | Isolation date | Itraconazole | Posaconazole | RNA relative quantification | DNA relative quantification | Cyp51A | Cyp51B | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIC (μg/ml) | R/S | MIC (μg/ml) | R/S | cyp51A | ±SD | cyp51B | ± SD | cyp51A | ±SD | cyp51B | ± SD | GenBank accession | Punctual mutation | GenBank accession | Punctual mutation | ||||||
| Patient 1 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-1 | MN964040 | nasal | 15/10/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.90 | ±0,02 | 1.16 | ±0,04 | 0.69 | ±0,05 | 0.57 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-2 | MN964041 | sputum | 15/10/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.125 | S | 2.15 | ±0,03 | 0.73 | ±0,02 | 0.89 | ±0,02 | 1.98 | ±0,04 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-3 | MN964042 | sputum | 22/10/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.58 | ±0,01 | 0.90 | ±0,02 | 1.37 | ±0,02 | 0.97 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 2 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-4 | MN964043 | nasal | 15/10/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.19 | S | 1.53 | ±0,02 | 1.05 | ±0,04 | 1.27 | ±0,03 | 1.93 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-5 | MN964044 | sputum | 15/10/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.064 | S | 0.51 | ±0,04 | 0.05 | ±0,02 | 1.05 | ±0,02 | 1.92 | ±0,06 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-6 | MN964045 | nasal | 23/10/2018 | 0.032 | S | 0.094 | S | 0.95 | ±0,01 | 0.89 | ±0,02 | 1.69 | ±0,03 | 0.93 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 3 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-7 | MN964046 | nasal | 30/10/2018 | 1.5 | R | 0.125 | S | 1.65 | ±0,02 | 0.73 | ±0,03 | 2.51 | ±0,02 | 1.98 | ±0,02 | MN964023 | C-T*(183) | MN964034 | No mutation |
| TN-8 | MN964047 | sputum | 30/10/2018 | 0.5 | S | 0.094 | S | 1.12 | ±0,02 | 0.73 | ±0,02 | 1.13 | ±0,07 | 5.97 | ±0,04 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 4 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-9 | MN964048 | sputum | 30/10/2018 | 0.75 | S | 0.125 | S | 4.48 | ±0,02 | 3.89 | ±0,02 | 2.71 | ±0,02 | 2.67 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-10 | MN964049 | nasal | 30/10/2018 | 0.38 | S | 0.064 | S | 1.42 | ±0,02 | 1.97 | ±0,04 | 2.49 | ±0,03 | 2.01 | ±0,03 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 5 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-11 | MN964050 | sputum | 10/11/2018 | 0.5 | S | 0.125 | S | 5.65 | ±0,01 | 2.31 | ±0,02 | 1.87 | ±0,02 | 1.02 | ±0,02 | MN964018 | No mutation | MN964029 | No mutation |
| TN-12 | MN964051 | BAL | 17/11/2018 | 0.125 | S | 0.125 | S | 2.35 | ±0,02 | 2.31 | ±0,02 | 1.87 | ±0,02 | 1.02 | ±0,02 | MN964019 | C-T*(183) | MN964030 | No mutation | ||
| Patient 6 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-13 | MN964052 | BAL | 03/12/2018 | 0.75 | S | 0.19 | S | 5.68 | ±0,02 | 2.35 | ±0,05 | 2.83 | ±0,05 | 3.95 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-14 | MN964053 | sputum | 26/11/2018 | 0.5 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.63 | ±0,03 | 0.88 | ±0,06 | 6.95 | ±0,07 | 1.06 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-15 | MN964054 | nasal | 26/11/2018 | 1 | R | 0.19 | S | 0.90 | ±0,02 | 0.76 | ±0,02 | 0.53 | ±0,02 | 1.65 | ±0,05 | MN964024 | C-T*(183) | MN964035 | No mutation | ||
| TN-16 | MN964055 | sputum | 10/11/2018 | 1 | R | 0.19 | S | 1.02 | ±0,02 | 1.22 | ±0,05 | 2.34 | ±0,04 | 2.84 | ±0,02 | MN964025 | C-T*(183) | MN964036 | No mutation | ||
| Patient 7 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-17 | MN964056 | sputum | 01/03/2017 | 0.75 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.48 | ±0,02 | 1.10 | ±0,02 | 0.77 | ±0,02 | 2.07 | ±0,06 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-18 | MN964057 | BAL | 15/03/2017 | 0.5 | S | 0.125 | S | 2.18 | ±0,03 | 1.81 | ±0,02 | 2.11 | ±0,02 | 2.17 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-19 | MN964058 | sputum | 08/03/2017 | 0.75 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.92 | ±0,02 | 0.76 | ±0,02 | 0.57 | ±0,02 | 1.11 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-20 | MN964059 | sputum | 15/03/2017 | 0.38 | S | 0.064 | S | 2.27 | ±0,02 | 2.88 | ±0,05 | 0.64 | ±0,04 | 1.09 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 8 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-21 | MN964060 | sputum | 08/03/2017 | 0.38 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.45 | ±0,02 | 0.88 | ±0,02 | 6.87 | ±0,02 | 1.82 | ±0,02 | MN964020 | C-T*(183) | MN964031 | No mutation |
| Patient 9 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-22 | MN964061 | sputum | 01/03/2017 | 0.25 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.49 | ±0,02 | 0.55 | ±0,02 | 1.84 | ±0,02 | 1.68 | ±0,04 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| Patient 10 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-23 | MN964062 | sputum | 15/03/2017 | 0.38 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.69 | ±0,02 | 0.95 | ±0,03 | 1.73 | ±0,03 | 1.59 | ±0,02 | MN964021 | C-T*(183) | MN964032 | No mutation |
| Patient 11 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-24 | MN964063 | sputum | 01/03/2017 | 0.38 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.51 | ±0,02 | 0.87 | ±0,02 | 1.62 | ±0,02 | 1.66 | ±0,09 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-25 | MN964064 | sputum | 08/03/2017 | 0.75 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.81 | ±0,02 | 0.75 | ±0,01 | 1.62 | ±0,01 | 1.48 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-26 | MN964065 | BAL | 15/03/2017 | 0.75 | S | 0.125 | S | 2.21 | ±0,02 | 2.51 | ±0,02 | 0.67 | ±0,02 | 1.42 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| Patient 12 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-27 | MN964066 | BAL | 03/12/2018 | 0.25 | S | 0.125 | S | 0.65 | ±0,02 | 0.78 | ±0,04 | 5.95 | ±0,03 | 1.03 | ±0,08 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-28 | MN964067 | nasal | 26/11/2018 | 0.25 | S | 0.125 | S | 1.73 | ±0,02 | 0.88 | ±0,02 | 1.95 | ±0,02 | 1.06 | ±0,02 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||
| TN-29 | MN964068 | sputum | 26/11/2018 | 0.5 | S | 0.094 | S | 2.11 | ±0,02 | 0.48 | ±0,02 | 4.39 | ±0,02 | 1.95 | ±0,02 | MN964022 | No mutation | MN964033 | No mutation | ||
| Patient 13 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-30 | MN964069 | sputum | 01/03/2017 | 0.5 | S | 0.094 | S | 2.37 | ±0,02 | 2.27 | ±0,08 | 0.68 | ±0,07 | 1.44 | ±0,03 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| TN-31 | MN964070 | lung biopsy | 17/04/2017 | 1.5 | R | 0.75 | R | 12.99 | ±0,02 | 11.32 | ±0,02 | 3.07 | ±0,04 | 2.71 | ±0,02 | MN964026 | C-T*(183) | MN964037 | A-G*(529) | ||
| TN-32 | MN964071 | nasal | 01/03/2017 | 0.5 | S | 1 | R | 7.49 | ±0,02 | 3.51 | ±0,08 | 1.97 | ±0,02 | 0.77 | ±0,05 | MN964027 | C-T*(183) | MN964038 | No mutation | ||
| Patient 14 | Invasive aspergillosis | TN-33 | MN964072 | nasal | 21/03/2018 | 1 | R | 0.75 | R | 16.89 | ±0,02 | 2.48 | ±0,02 | 2.57 | ±0,06 | 1.71 | ±0,02 | MN964028 | G-A*(6I6) | MN964039 | No mutation |
| TN-34 | MN964073 | nasal | 28/03/2018 | 0.38 | S | 0.064 | S | 6.49 | ±0,02 | 1.52 | ±0,08 | 0.97 | ±0,02 | 0.77 | ±0,06 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ||

Fig. 1.
Study of the level of expression of cyp51A genes by relative quantification with RT-qPCR in Aspergillus flavus: 28 susceptible strains (striped bars) and 6 IT-POS resistant strains (white bars). Gene expression values are represented as bar plots with mean + SD. p-Values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test, p-values of statistical tests are shown within the graphs.
*p < 0.005

Fig. 2.
Study of the level of expression of cyp51B genes by relative quantification with RT-qPCR in Aspergillus flavus: 28 susceptible strains (striped bars) and 6 IT-POS resistant strains (white bars). Gene expression values are represented as bar plots with mean + SD. p-Values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test, p-values of statistical tests are shown within the graphs.
*p < 0.005

Fig. 3.
Alignment of the DNA sequences of the cyp51A gene fragments from Aspergillus flavus, was compared with wild type A. flavus strain (Genbank ID: XM_002375082.1).

Fig. 4.
DNA sequences of the cyp51B gene fragments from Aspergillus flavus were compared with wild type A. flavus strain (Genbank ID: XM_002379089.1).

Fig. 5.
Overall view of the 3D model of the Aspergillus flavus CYP51A protein in complex with three antifungal (IT, POS and VOR). Only TN33 strain presented the structure of CYP51A with the substitution of lysine for a glycine in the position 206 of the protein.

Fig. 6.
Overall view of the 3D model of the Aspergillus flavus CYP51B protein in complex with three antifungal (IT, POS and VOR). Only TN31 strain presented the structure of CYP51B with the substitution of glycine for a lysine in the position 177 of the protein.