Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Trichosporon species: a multicenter study of 223 clinical isolates from South China
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- 3Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- 4Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- 5Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, People’s Hospital of Boluo County, Huizhou, China
- 6Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- 7Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Yulin, Yulin, China
- 8Department of Clinical Laboratory, Heyuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heyuan, China
- 9Department of Dermatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- 100Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Abstract
BackgroundTrichosporon species have emerged as opportunistic pathogens, causing life-threatening invasive infections. However, epidemiological data from South China remain limited. This multicenter study investigates the species distribution, genotypic characteristics, and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical Trichosporon isolates from this region.MethodsA total of 223 unique clinical Trichosporon isolates were collected from 18 centers in five South China provinces. These isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and sequencing of the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region. The Trichosporon asahii isolates were further analyzed through IGS1 sequence analysis for genotyping. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of six antifungal agents were determined using the broth microdilution method outlined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on isolates with high fluconazole MICs and on randomly selected low-MIC isolates to characterize ERG11 mutations.ResultsIGS1 sequencing identified 220 of the 223 isolates to the species level, representing eight species, with T. asahii predominating (171, 77.7%). The species-level concordance between MALDI-TOF MS and IGS1 sequencing was 85.5% (188/220), with substantial interspecies variation. Genotypes 1 (32.7%) and 3 (32.2%) co-predominated among T. asahii isolates, with no significant association found between genotype and specimen source (P = 0.663). Voriconazole was the most active agent, with a MIC90 of 0.125 μg/mL and a geometric mean (GM) of 0.06 μg/mL. High fluconazole MICs were consistently associated with specific ERG11 substitutions: Y133F in T. dohaense and L229I, V132A, and Y133F in T. asteroides.ConclusionsT. asahii is the predominant clinical Trichosporon species in South China. Voriconazole is the most effective antifungal agent against Trichosporon. Species-specific ERG11 polymorphisms may be associated with elevated fluconazole MICs.
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BibTeX
@article{qiao2026species,
title = {{Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Trichosporon species: a multicenter study of 223 clinical isolates from South China}},
author = {Yangyang Qiao and Jiarong Zhan and Kaixuan Yuan and Jiankai Deng and Yaqin Peng and Huilin Yang and Shiqin Yang and Bingshao Liang and Danping Qiu and Lanping Zhang and Wenying Cai and Yanfang Wang and Penghao Guo},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1982885},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1982885},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Trichosporon species: a multicenter study of 223 clinical isolates from South China
AU - Yangyang Qiao
AU - Jiarong Zhan
AU - Kaixuan Yuan
AU - Jiankai Deng
AU - Yaqin Peng
AU - Huilin Yang
AU - Shiqin Yang
AU - Bingshao Liang
AU - Danping Qiu
AU - Lanping Zhang
AU - Wenying Cai
AU - Yanfang Wang
AU - Penghao Guo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1982885
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1982885
AB - BackgroundTrichosporon species have emerged as opportunistic pathogens, causing life-threatening invasive infections. However, epidemiological data from South China remain limited. This multicenter study investigates the species distribution, genotypic characteristics, and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical Trichosporon isolates from this region.MethodsA total of 223 unique clinical Trichosporon isolates were collected from 18 centers in five South China provinces. These isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and sequencing of the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region. The Trichosporon asahii isolates were further analyzed through IGS1 sequence analysis for genotyping. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of six antifungal agents were determined using the broth microdilution method outlined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on isolates with high fluconazole MICs and on randomly selected low-MIC isolates to characterize ERG11 mutations.ResultsIGS1 sequencing identified 220 of the 223 isolates to the species level, representing eight species, with T. asahii predominating (171, 77.7%). The species-level concordance between MALDI-TOF MS and IGS1 sequencing was 85.5% (188/220), with substantial interspecies variation. Genotypes 1 (32.7%) and 3 (32.2%) co-predominated among T. asahii isolates, with no significant association found between genotype and specimen source (P = 0.663). Voriconazole was the most active agent, with a MIC90 of 0.125 μg/mL and a geometric mean (GM) of 0.06 μg/mL. High fluconazole MICs were consistently associated with specific ERG11 substitutions: Y133F in T. dohaense and L229I, V132A, and Y133F in T. asteroides.ConclusionsT. asahii is the predominant clinical Trichosporon species in South China. Voriconazole is the most effective antifungal agent against Trichosporon. Species-specific ERG11 polymorphisms may be associated with elevated fluconazole MICs.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -