Candida Evolution Illuminates Drug Resistance

A paper published in Nature Microbiology by Dr. Toni Gabaldón’s Comparative Genomics lab (IRB Barcelona & BSC-CNS)  has compared ~2,000 genomes from six pathogenic Candida species. The team has catalogued hundreds of genes under recent positive selection and uncovered both known and novel variants that confer resistance to seven frontline antifungals.

These adaptive signatures can now help monitor emerging strains and suggest novel drug targets. Given that resistant fungal infections account for roughly 1.5 million deaths each year, this dataset should prove useful in guiding the development of improved antifungal therapies and more informed stewardship strategies.

More information: Candida evolution disclosed: new insights into fungal infections