Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous environmental mold and a major opportunistic human pathogen. It is the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis, a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients (e.g., transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients). The cyp51A gene encodes lanosterol 14-demethylase, the target of azole antifungals (e.g., voriconazole, itraconazole). Azole resistance in A. fumigatus is often linked to mutations in cyp51A, particularly:
- Point mutations in the coding region (e.g., L98H, G448S)
- Tandem repeats (TRs) in the promoter region gene overexpression
- TR34: 34 bp repeat
- TR46: 46 bp repeat (target of this LAMP assay)
The TR46 mutation leads to high-level voriconazole resistance and is associated with environmental fungicide exposure. Rapid detection is critical for guiding appropriate antifungal therapy.
