This study reveals, for the first time, that Candidozyma (Candida auris)-a growing global health threat, often causing outbreaks in hospitals-can produce a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is known to influence how the immune system responds and has been linked to increased virulence in other yeast species. By identifying specific genes (OLE2 and POX1-3) involved in PGE2 production and virulence, potential novel drug targets have been identified. Understanding how C. auris produces PGE2 and how this contributes to its ability to infect and survive in hosts could lead to innovative therapies that block these pathways, making infections easier to treat.
Bolsenbroek et al. (Wed,) studied this question.