Azole resistance is a serious problem in the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, which is involved in the vast majority of invasive infections in humans. Previous work suggests that plant-decaying compost is a hot spot for the emergence of resistance in A. fumigatus.  During a longitudinal environmental sampling study of 120 compost samples throughout the year, we documented variations on azole fungicides, CFU counts of A. fumigatus, resistance levels, and the physical growth conditions in compost. We now report on an experimental compost-model based on natural compost and to validate which factors promote the emergence of resistant A. fumigatus in the environment. We use initially sterile different type of compost material that we treat with combinations of different fungicides and various concentrations as well as with /no light, low O2/high CO2, high/ low temperatures. We inoculate with sensitive, resistant and combinations of strains of resistant and sensitive. At the end of the experiments we will assay the resistance development in terms of resistance levels and mechanisms under different conditions. We directly link field compost surveys with laboratory studies, and to answer these questions

5 / Azole resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus in plant-decaying compost model