Trichomoniasis, a globally distributed sexually transmitted infection, is caused by the urogenital parasite Trichomonas vaginalis Donné, 1836 affecting both women and men. The treatment of choice is metronidazole (MTZ). In the present study, 15 samples of vaginal discharge and urine were analysed by sequencing nitroreductase genes (ntr4 and ntr6). An in silico model was structured to illustrate the location of point mutations (PM) in the protein. The ntr4 gene presented four PMs: G76C (10/10), C213G (9/10), C318A (5/10) and G424A (1/10), while the ntr6 gene had eight PMs; G593A (13/13) the most frequent, G72T and G627C, both in 8/13. The PM C213G and A438T generated a stop codon causing a truncated nitroreductase 4 and 6 protein. Docking analysis demonstrated that some models had a decrease in binding affinity to MTZ (p < 0.0001). A high frequency of mutations was observed in the samples analysed that could be associated with resistance to MTZ in Chile.

Centre of Excellence in Translational Medicine Nucleus of Scientific and Technological Bioresources Faculty of Medicine Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

Department of Pathological Anatomy Faculty of Medicine Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile *Address for correspondence Angelica Melo Angermeyer Universidad de La Frontera Faculty of Medicine Edificio Biociencias Av Alemania 0458 Temuco Chile E mail

Department of Preclinical Sciences Faculty of Medicine Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

ORCID iD 0000 0002 3576 1745

Public Health Department Centre of Excellence Training Research and Management for Evidence Based Health Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

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