Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure
10:33

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure

Published on: May 27, 2022

Antifungal resistance in Aspergillus

P H Chandrasekar1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA. pchandrasekar@med.wayne.edu

Medical Mycology
|August 23, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Antifungal drug resistance in Aspergillus is not well-studied, but new tests allow for monitoring azole and polyene resistance. Continued surveillance is crucial due to rising aspergillosis and new antifungal drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Aspergillosis incidence is increasing globally.
  • Emerging antifungal drug resistance poses a significant clinical challenge.
  • Limited data currently exists on drug resistance patterns in Aspergillus species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the available data on antifungal drug resistance in Aspergillus.
  • To highlight the importance of monitoring resistance trends.
  • To discuss the implications of new susceptibility testing methods.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on Aspergillus drug resistance.
  • Analysis of data related to azole and polyene antifungal agents.
  • Synthesis of information on susceptibility testing advancements.

Main Results:

  • Data on drug resistance in Aspergillus remains scarce.
  • Susceptibility testing for azoles and polyenes is becoming more feasible.
  • Trends in resistance are not yet well-established but require attention.

Conclusions:

  • Continued monitoring of antifungal drug resistance in Aspergillus is essential.
  • Increased incidence of aspergillosis necessitates vigilance.
  • The development of new antifungal drugs underscores the need for resistance surveillance.

More Related Videos

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...