Scientists find a weak spot in deadly fungus that shut down hospital intensive care units

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Source: ScienceDaily Health

Original: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251223043934.htm...

Published: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:30 EST

Candida auris is a deadly fungus found in hospitals that resists most antifungal drugs.1[1][6] Scientists have discovered the fungus's weak spot - during infection, it activates specific genes that help it seek out the nutrients it needs to survive.1 This discovery has enabled a new experimentally developed living host model that has allowed scientists to observe the fungus in action during infection for the first time.[1] Findings about these genes could lead to the development of new treatments or repurpose existing drugs to treat infections caused by this fungus.Candida auris poses a serious public health problem because its ability to survive on different surfaces and its resistance to drugs make it difficult to control in hospital settings.9