Native human and mouse skin infection models to study Candida auris-host interactions.

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Candida auris (C. auris) is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen causing life-threatening infections.
• The World Health Organization identified C. auris as a critical global health threat.
• Understanding C. auris skin interactions is vital for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel ex vivo skin models for studying C. auris-host interactions.
• To investigate the role of the skin barrier in C. auris penetration and invasion.
• To analyze C. auris morphogenetic changes upon skin colonization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized histology and immunofluorescence analysis of ex vivo human and mouse skin explants.
• Infected skin biopsies with C. auris via distinct routes, including needling to disrupt the barrier.
• Examined fungal growth, morphology, and tissue penetration.

Main Results:

• An intact skin barrier effectively prevents C. auris penetration and invasion.
• C. auris readily colonizes intact human skin but invades deeper layers only when the barrier is compromised.
• Barrier disruption is not required for C. auris penetration in mouse skin.
• C. auris exhibits pseudohyphal growth in deeper dermal layers of both human and mouse skin.

Conclusions:

• Developed and validated new ex vivo human and mouse skin models for C. auris research.
• Demonstrated the critical role of skin barrier integrity in preventing C. auris infection.
• Identified C. auris morphogenetic adaptation in response to skin penetration.
• Results provide a foundation for studying skin immunity and testing topical antimicrobial agents.