Heteroresistance and fungi |
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| Authors: | Gabriella F. Ferreira Daniel A. Santos |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Governador Valadares, Brazil;2. Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora ‐ Campus Governador Valadares, Governador Valadares, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | The concept of heteroresistance refers to the heterogeneous susceptibility to an antimicrobial drug in a microorganism population, meaning that some clones may be resistant and others are susceptible. This phenomenon has been widely studied in bacteria, but little attention has been given to its expression in fungi. We review the available literature on heteroresistance in fungi and invite the reader to recognise this phenomenon as a fungal mechanism to adapt to environmental stress, which may interfere both in resistance and virulence. Finally, heteroresistance may explain the treatment failures to eradicate mycosis in some patients treated with a seemingly appropriate antifungal. |
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| Keywords: | fungi heteroresistance virulence and resistance |
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