Kauser Jabeen – Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Matthew C Fisher – Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Rumina Hasan – Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Joveria Farooqi – Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Najia Ghanchi – Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Afia Zafar – Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Saadia Tabassum – Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Nadia Ali Zafar – Jinnah Hospital, Pakistan
Pakistan
Microbial Pathogenesis, Biomarkers and Diagnostics, Innovative platforms
Dermatophytes
Despite a huge global burden, emerging antifungal resistance, and significant impact on health, dermatophytosis is a neglected disease entity that is not included in the WHO fungal priority list. In Pakistan, a low- or middle-income country, antifungal-resistant dermatophyte infections, specifically Trichophyton indotineae, are emerging. However, the incidence and impact on clinical outcomes, quality of life, and the financial and psychosocial condition of patients is unknown. Fundamental insights into resistance mechanisms, virulence factors, and transmission dynamics of drug-resistant dermatophytes are urgently needed. This multicentre project based in Pakistan aims to explore the epidemiology of antifungal resistance in recalcitrant dermatophyte infections and their psychosocial, financial, and clinical impact on patients. While the main focus of the project will be characterisation of strains obtained through clinical microbiology laboratories in Pakistan, whole genome sequencing will be performed for in-depth analysis of mechanisms of resistance, and transmission of antifungal-resistant dermatophytes. The results of this study will expand the overall knowledgebase around dermatophyte infections and can be used by multiple stakeholders towards the development of better surveillance, diagnostics, therapeutics, infection prevention, guidelines, and policy guidance.
