Fungal pathogens exposed – genomic and phenotypic insights intoCandida aurisand its relatives of theCandida haemuloniispecies complex

Abstract

AbstractCandida aurisshowed the world the ability of fungi to rapidly emerge as an urgent threat to public health. Close relatives of theCandida haemuloniicomplex exhibit also a similar multi-drug resistant nature and are increasingly reported as nosocomial pathogens. Here, we analyze both complete genomes assemblies and extensive phenotypic data for the fiveC. aurisclades and pathogenic and non-pathogenic species related to theC. haemuloniispecies complex. First, we resolved the phylogeny of the species complex. Next, comparingC. auristo its pathogenic and non-pathogenic relatives we identified a pathogenic potential for the wholeC. haemuloniispecies complex by shared gene content and phenotypic traits linked to drug resistance and virulence.In vivovirulence assays using theGalleria mellonellafungal infection model show thatC. aurisstrains are significantly more virulent than any of the sibling species in theC. haemuloniicomplex. Phenotypic analysis links the increased virulence ofC. auristo a more stress resistant phenotype compared to its siblings.