Interplay between Candida auris and host immunity: Highlighting its unique strategies for resisting host immune...

Candida auris, an emerging "super fungus," poses a global threat owing to multidrug resistance, rapid transmission, and high mortality. Distinct from other clinically prevalent fungal pathogens such as Candida species, C. auris employs unique defense mechanisms against the host immune system, including immune evasion and survival strategies. This review summarizes the distinct strategies used by C. auris to resist host immune responses. In particular, C. auris exhibits pronounced genomic and morphological plasticity, which facilitates rapid adaptation to host-derived stressors. Its modified cell wall, characterized by a thicker mannan layer, efficiently masks immunogenic β-glucan, thereby reducing immunogenicity. Furthermore, multicellular features, including robust biofilms and unique aggregative forms, enhance colonization, transmission, and stress resistance. C. auris also secretes diverse virulence factors and undergoes adaptive metabolic reprogramming under nutrient limitation, promoting more efficient immune evasion and survival within the host. Collectively, these flexible defensive strategies confer enhanced host immune resistance, contributing to its heightened pathogenicity. This review provides novel perspectives on future research directions and potential therapeutic strategies for managing C. auris infections.