Candida auris Forms High-Burden Biofilms in Skin Niche Conditions and on Porcine Skin.

Emerging pathogen causes nosocomial outbreaks of life-threatening invasive candidiasis. It is unclear how this species colonizes skin and spreads in health care facilities. Here, we analyzed growth in synthetic sweat medium designed to mimic axillary skin conditions. We show that demonstrates a high capacity for biofilm formation in this milieu, well beyond that observed for the most commonly isolated sp., The biofilms persist in environmental conditions expected in the hospital setting. To model skin colonization, we designed an porcine skin model. We show that proliferates on porcine skin in multilayer biofilms. This capacity to thrive in skin niche conditions helps explain the propensity of to colonize skin, persist on medical devices, and rapidly spread in hospitals. These studies provide clinically relevant tools to further characterize this important growth modality. The emerging fungal pathogen causes invasive infections and is spreading in hospitals worldwide. Why this species exhibits the capacity to transfer efficiently among patients is unknown. Our findings reveal that forms high-burden biofilms in conditions mimicking sweat on the skin surface. These adherent biofilm communities persist in environmental conditions expected in the hospital setting. Using a pig skin model, we show that also forms high-burden biofilm structures on the skin surface. Identification of this mode of growth sheds light on how this recently described pathogen persists in hospital settings and spreads among patients.