Candida auris research reveals new vaccine targets and immune evasion tactics

Researchers are making progress in understanding and combating Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus that poses a significant threat in healthcare settings. First identified in Japan in 2009, the pathogen has spread globally and is particularly dangerous to immunocompromised individuals.

In a study published in Angewandte Chemie, scientists from institutions including the Max Planck Institute and the University of Exeter identified a specific sugar structure on the fungus's surface. By creating a synthetic version of this molecule, researchers have developed a potential basis for a vaccine, protective antibodies, and a prototype for a rapid diagnostic test similar to lateral flow devices used for COVID-19.

Simultaneously, researchers at UC San Francisco have uncovered how the fungus evades the immune system. Their study, published in Science, found that Candida auris colonizes human skin by settling into hair follicles. Unlike other fungi that trigger a protective antifungal response, Candida auris redirects the immune system by stimulating interferon gamma, which prevents the skin from effectively clearing the infection.