Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
8-1-2024
Journal
Current Opinion in Microbiology
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen with several concerning qualities. First recognized in 2009, it has arisen in multiple geographically distinct genomic clades nearly simultaneously. C. auris strains are typically multidrug resistant and colonize the skin much better than most other pathogenic fungi; it also persists on abiotic surfaces, enabling outbreaks due to transmission in health care facilities. All these suggest a biology substantially different from the 'model' fungal pathogen, Candida albicans and support intensive investigation of C. auris biology directly. To uncover novel virulence mechanisms in this species requires the development of appropriate animal infection models. Various studies using mice, the definitive model, are inconsistent due to differences in mouse and fungal strains, immunosuppressive regimes, doses, and outcome metrics. At the same time, developing models of skin colonization present a route to new insights into an aspect of fungal pathogenesis that has not been well studied in other species. We also discuss the growing use of nonmammalian model systems, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, such as zebrafish, C. elegans, Drosophila, and Galleria mellonella, that have been productively employed in virulence studies with other fungal species. This review will discuss progress in developing appropriate animal models, outline current challenges, and highlight opportunities in demystifying this curious species.
Keywords
Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Candida auris, Virulence, Candidiasis, Mice, Humans, Invertebrates, Vertebrates, Zebrafish, Caenorhabditis elegans
DOI
10.1016/j.mib.2024.102506
PMID
38925077
PMCID
PMC11432150
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2-1-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Published Open-Access
yes