Dissemination of Candida auris Biofilms: A Medical Abrosia

Candida auris is a newly discovered, multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen and poses a global health risk. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases and transmission in hospitals especially amongst patients hospitalized in ICU and with suppressed immune systems. The pathobiology of this fungus is inadequately studied. Apparently, this fungus needs to form biofilms in order to spread infection and evade medication therapy. Biofilms have important function in the virulence and pathogenesis of C. auris. Transcriptome analysis revealed that C. auris upregulates adhesin proteins PGA52, PGA26, IFF4, and CSA1 during the formation and maintenance of biofilms. Major facilitator superfamily proteins MDR1 and RDC3 and ABC transporter proteins such as CDR1, SNQ2, and YHD3 are induced during biofilm formation. A brief overview of the biology of C. auris biofilm is given in this chapter. It contains details on several models created to comprehend biofilms and the various signalling pathways with the possibility of new therapeutic targets for the removal of the pathogenic biofilm.