Characterization of Metabolomic Response of Candida spp. to Heavy Metal Exposure

As a result of anthropogenic activities, contaminants such as heavy metals have been introduced into the environment. Microorganisms, including Candida spp., have emerged as a viable alternative for their removal; however, the mechanism responsible for the removal process has not been fully characterized. This study aims to identify the secretome of Candida strains (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis) contributing to their ability to withstand heavy metals. For this purpose, Candida spp. cultures were incubated at 28 °C under agitation for 72 h and exposed to different concentrations of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The cultures were then analyzed using GC-MS. In Candida spp. cultures exposed to heavy metals, 117 different compounds were identified compared with the control cultures. Among all Candida spp., 15 metabolites showed a fold change greater than two compared to the control conditions. These included hydrocarbons (3), fatty acids (5), aromatic compounds (5), a nonaromatic compound (1) and an organosiloxane (1), which were identified in the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Cu and Zn).