Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses
10:45

Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses

Published on: June 13, 2018

11.3K

Host-Candida auris interactions in the skin

Shankar Thangamani1, Abishek Balakumar1, Abhishek Datta1

  • 1Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America.

Plos Pathogens
|March 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus, can persist on skin. Understanding host-microbe interactions and fungal factors is key to developing new treatments for Candida auris skin colonization and infection.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections.
  • Unlike other Candida species, C. auris demonstrates significant skin colonization potential.
  • This review focuses on the factors contributing to C. auris skin colonization and infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize current knowledge on clinical risk factors for C. auris skin colonization.
  • To elucidate host-microbe interactions governing C. auris skin colonization and infection.
  • To identify fungal and host determinants influencing C. auris pathogenesis on the skin.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Candida auris.
  • Analysis of fungal factors (mannan layer, adhesins, Hog1 pathway) involved in skin adaptation.
  • Examination of host immune responses (cytokines, immune cells, IFN-γ) to C. auris.

Main Results:

  • Fungal determinants like the mannan outer layer and adhesins contribute to skin adaptation.
  • Host immune responses, including specific cytokines and immune cells, modulate infection outcomes.
  • Excessive IFN-γ responses can exacerbate epithelial damage and fungal persistence.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding fungal and host factors is crucial for managing C. auris skin colonization.
  • Further research into these interactions can guide the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines.
  • Targeting C. auris's skin-tropic nature and multidrug resistance is essential for effective control.

More Related Videos

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro08:41

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro

Published on: March 28, 2025

1.4K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging03:24

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Candida albicans Detection in Catheter Infections Using Fluorescent Protein Tagging

Published on: March 22, 2024

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
46
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
6.1K
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
39
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
14.6K
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to...
37
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.3K