Candida auris was first described in Japan in 2009 and has now been the cause of significant outbreaks across the globe. The high number of isolates that are resistant to one or more antifungals, as well as the high mortality rates from patients with bloodstream infections, has attracted the attention of the medical mycology, infectious disease, and public health communities to this pathogenic fungus. In the current work, we performed a broad multi-omics approach on two clinical isolates isolated in New York, the most affected area in the United States and found that the omic profile of C. auris differs significantly from C. albicans . In addition to our insights into C. auris carbon utilization and lipid and protein content, we believe that the availability of these data will enhance our ability to combat this rapidly emerging pathogenic yeast.

Heat shock proteins (hsps) are highly conserved biomolecules that are constitutively expressed and generally up-regulated in response to various stress conditions (biotic and abiotic). Hsps have diverse functions, categorizations, and classifications. Their adaptive expression in fungi indicates their significance in these diverse species, particularly in dimorphic pathogens. Histoplasma capsulatum, and Paracoccidioides species pluralis are dimorphic fungi that are the causative agents of histoplasmosis and paracoccidioidomycosis, respectively. This minireview will focus on the pathobiology of Hsps with particular emphasis on their roles in morphogenesis and virulence of Histoplasma and Paracoccidiodes, and the potential role of active and passive immunization against Hsps in protection against infection with these fungi.

Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging pathogenic fungal species that is especially worrisome due to its high mortality rates and widespread antifungal resistance. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nitric oxide (NO) nanoparticles on Candida species, and, to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the antifungal effects of a NO-generating nanoparticle on C. auris. Six C. auris strains were incubated with a nanoparticle (NAC-SNO-np), which releases N-acetylcysteine S-nitrosothiol (NAC-SNO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and generates NO, through colony forming unit (CFU) assays, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. NAC-SNO-np effectively eradicates planktonic and biofilm C. auris. Across all six strains, 10 mg/mL NAC-SNO-np significantly reduced the number of CFUs (p < 0.05) and demonstrated a >70% decrease in biofilm viability (p < 0.05). NAC-SNO-np effectively eradicates planktonic C. auris and significantly reduces C. auris biofilm formation. Hence, this novel NO-releasing nanoparticle shows promise as a future therapeutic.

Background/Objectives: While various clinical manifestations occur in sporotrichosis, cutaneous forms predominate. The recommended sporotrichosis treatment is itraconazole, an antifungal with certain restrictions. In recent years, the observation of reduced treatment effectiveness in some patients has arisen, possibly due to Sporothrix spp. resistance mechanisms. Consequently, there is a growing need for alternative therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the antifungal activity of manuka honey (MH) against pathogenic species of the genus Sporothrix. Methods: In this study, we assessed MH antifungal efficacy across concentrations ranging from 5% to 40% against 26 Sporothrix spp. isolates. In addition, its components were evaluated through chromatography and other in vitro techniques. Results: Minimum inhibitory concentrations of MH were found to be 15–40%, 10–15%, and 5–10% for Sporothrix brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, and Sporothrix globosa, respectively. Purified methylglyoxal did not hinder Sporothrix growth. The MH antifungal potential was compromised through treatment with catalase or filtration through a 0.22 µm cellulose membrane. Chromatographic analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in MH identified 40 VOCs, including carbonyl compounds, alcohols, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds, terpenoids, and carboxylic acids. Additionally, two phenolic compounds were identified as potential markers for the authentication of MH, along with a disaccharide that may contribute to its antifungal activity. Conclusions: MH has demonstrated biological activity against the most significant Sporothrix species with pathogenic impact on humans. This suggests its consideration in future research endeavors focused on novel topical treatments for cutaneous sporotrichosis in both human and animal subjects.