Event Title
Newest Kid on the Block: Characterization of the Novel Multidrugresistant Pathogen, Candida auris
Faculty Mentor
Tejas Bouklas
Major/Area of Research
Biomedical Technology, Chemistry
Description
Candida auris is a novel and emerging fungal pathogen capable of causinginvasive, and often fatal, bloodstream and wound infections in immunocompromised patients. Several outbreaks have been reported in hospitals across the world, including the United States, and predominantly in New York. C.auris exhibits extensive multidrug resistance that has never been seen in any Candida species, and is often misdiagnosed for other Candida species, thus limiting treatment options for patients. Our laboratory obtained 10 C. auris isolates in order to perform in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) under Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. An alarming percentage (70%) of C. auris isolates exhibited a strong resistance to the commonly prescribed drug, fluconazole (MICs of 128 ug/mL or above). Many of these strains are projected to have an elevated resistance to other classes of drugs, such as polyenes and echinochandins as well. An in vivo model using the waxworm, Galleria mellonella was used to further study the highly-resistant C. auris strains, which demonstrated significantly different virulence in this host. Outbreaks of C. auris continue to increase on a worldwide scale, posing an immediate global health risk. In vitro and in vivo studies to characterize C. auris pathogenesis are imperative and fundamental to the proper diagnosis and treatment of this emerging threat.
Included in
Newest Kid on the Block: Characterization of the Novel Multidrugresistant Pathogen, Candida auris
Candida auris is a novel and emerging fungal pathogen capable of causinginvasive, and often fatal, bloodstream and wound infections in immunocompromised patients. Several outbreaks have been reported in hospitals across the world, including the United States, and predominantly in New York. C.auris exhibits extensive multidrug resistance that has never been seen in any Candida species, and is often misdiagnosed for other Candida species, thus limiting treatment options for patients. Our laboratory obtained 10 C. auris isolates in order to perform in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) under Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. An alarming percentage (70%) of C. auris isolates exhibited a strong resistance to the commonly prescribed drug, fluconazole (MICs of 128 ug/mL or above). Many of these strains are projected to have an elevated resistance to other classes of drugs, such as polyenes and echinochandins as well. An in vivo model using the waxworm, Galleria mellonella was used to further study the highly-resistant C. auris strains, which demonstrated significantly different virulence in this host. Outbreaks of C. auris continue to increase on a worldwide scale, posing an immediate global health risk. In vitro and in vivo studies to characterize C. auris pathogenesis are imperative and fundamental to the proper diagnosis and treatment of this emerging threat.