Zhao Guolei, Lyu Jingwen, Veniaminova Natalia A, Zarnowski Robert, Mattos Eliciane, Johnson Chad J, Quintanilla Derek, Hautau Haley, Hold LeeAnn A, Xu Bin, Anku Juliet A E, Dasgupta Kaustav, Hale Joseph J, Steltzer Steph S, Santana Darian J, Ibrahim Ashraf S, Snitkin Evan S, Andes David, Nett Jeniel E, Singh Shakti, Abraham Adam C, Killian Megan L, Kahlenberg J Michelle, Wong Sunny Y, O'Meara Teresa R
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5673. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60876-1.
Candida auris is a fungal pathogen notorious for persistent skin colonization and transmission in healthcare settings. Here, we show that a C. auris conserved adhesin, Als4112, is required for skin colonization via keratinocyte attachment and direct interactions with host extracellular matrix proteins, especially basement membrane proteins such as laminin. Deletion of ALS4112 reduces skin colonization in mouse models of epicutaneous and systemic infection. In addition, coating plastic and catheter surfaces with collagen I or III inhibits C. auris attachment and biofilm formation. Our study highlights the critical role of Als4112 in C. auris colonization and virulence, and explores potential strategies to reduce the pathogen's adherence to abiotic surfaces and thus its spread in healthcare settings.
耳念珠菌是一种真菌病原体,在医疗环境中因持续的皮肤定植和传播而臭名昭著。在此,我们表明,耳念珠菌保守粘附素Als4112通过角质形成细胞附着以及与宿主细胞外基质蛋白(尤其是层粘连蛋白等基底膜蛋白)的直接相互作用,是皮肤定植所必需的。删除ALS4112可减少表皮和全身感染小鼠模型中的皮肤定植。此外,用I型或III型胶原蛋白包被塑料和导管表面可抑制耳念珠菌的附着和生物膜形成。我们的研究突出了Als4112在耳念珠菌定植和毒力中的关键作用,并探索了减少病原体对非生物表面的粘附从而减少其在医疗环境中传播的潜在策略。