A Candidozyma (Candida) auris-Optimized Episomal Plasmid-Induced Cas9-Editing System Reveals the Direct Impact of the...

Mutations in the Candidozyma (Candida) auris β-glucan synthase gene (FKS1) altering S639 are frequently associated with clinical echinocandin resistance. We have developed a novel C auris-optimized episomal plasmid-induced Cas9 (EPIC) gene-editing system capable of recyclable precision editing and demonstrate the contribution of FKS1S639F mutation to echinocandin resistance.

The EPIC gene-editing system was generated for optimized use in C auris, and ADE2 modification was evaluated in 5 C auris clades. Mutations leading to Fks1S639F and Fks1WT were placed into echinocandin-susceptible and echinocandin-resistant isolates from clades III and I, respectively. Echinocandin susceptibility was determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methods. Cell wall abundance of chitin and β-glucan was assessed by staining with calcofluor white and aniline blue.

The EPIC system was capable of targeted ADE2 editing in all tested C auris isolates and precise editing confirmed by sequencing. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FKS1 resulting in either the S639F substitution or a synonymous mutation was introduced in an echinocandin-susceptible clade III isolate. Precision FKS1 editing by the EPIC system was confirmed by whole genome sequencing. Introduction of the Fks1S639F allele increased echinocandin resistance, while correction of the Fks1S639F to the Fks1WT sequence in an echinocandin-resistant clade I isolate restored echinocandin sensitivity. Evaluation of cell wall composition showed strains harboring Fks1S639F to contain significantly elevated β-glucan and chitin content.

These data demonstrate the potential of our EPIC system in its ability to introduce SNPs in multiple C auris clade backgrounds while revealing the direct impact of the S639F-encoding FKS1 mutation on echinocandin resistance.