Metabolic Plasticity and Virulence-Associated Factors of Sporothrix brasiliensis Strains Related to Familiar Outbreaks of Cat-to-Human Transmitted Sporotrichosis

Sporothrix brasiliensis is the main agent of zoonotic sporotrichosis transmitted by domestic cats in South America. In humans, commonly presents with cutaneous or lymphocutaneous lesions, and cats, multiple ulcerated skin lesions associated enlarged lymph nodes respiratory signs. Fungal virulence factors may affect clinical presentation mycoses. spp. present some factors. This study aims to compare 24 S. strains from 12 familiar outbreaks cat-to-human sporotrichosis. growth different substrates, thermotolerance, resistance oxidative stress, production enzymes were evaluated. An invertebrate model experimental infection was used strains. The grew well on glucose N-acetyl-D-glucosamine but poorly lactate. Their thermotolerance moderate high. All susceptible hydrogen peroxide, majority produced hemolysins not phospholipase esterase. There no significant difference putative virulence-associated studied among hosts. Moreover, isolated a human cat four presented very similar profile expression these factors, reinforcing transmission Brazil demonstrating plasticity this species