Fungus Candida auris Uses Whole-Genome Duplication to Evade Drugs
Researchers led by the University of Exeter and City St George's, University of London, found that Candida auris can make multiple copies of its complete genome when exposed to antifungal drugs. The adaptation includes mutations in CRZ1, a gene involved in cell wall integrity. The team says this newly identified survival mechanism could point toward new ways to target the dangerous fungus.
Candida auris was first identified in 2008, and its origins are still unknown. It has caused outbreaks across every continent and in over 60 countries, including the U.K. The World Health Organization places it on a list of fungal pathogens requiring urgent attention.
The Exeter and City St George's team found that drug exposure can prompt the fungus to duplicate its whole genome. This may raise its odds of acquiring mutations, including changes in CRZ1, which relates to cell wall integrity. The paper is expected in Nature Communications and is now available as a bioRxiv preprint.
The finding may matter most for hospital patients, especially those in intensive care, where C. auris can spread via skin and equipment and cause severe bloodstream infections. If genome duplication helps the fungus survive treatment, infection control could become harder and outbreaks more disruptive or costly. Researchers may use this mechanism to explore new treatment or prevention strategies, though clinical benefits remain uncertain and require further study.