Scientists in Singapore have discovered a new type of deadly fungus

A scientific article with the results of these studies was published in The Lancet Microbe.

In 2023, a new type of Candida auris was found at Singapore General Hospital in a patient who had not left the country for two years. This prompted further investigation.

Candida auris is a fungus that causes dangerous infections and is resistant to most drugs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks it among the most dangerous pathogens for humans. Scientists from Singapore have recently identified a new clade of Candida auris, increasing the total number of known types of this fungus to six.

Key facts about Candida auris

• Danger: The fungus poses a serious threat to immunocompromised people and those with severe co-morbidities.
• Spread: It is easily transmitted and survives on a variety of surfaces, including medical equipment. This often leads to outbreaks of hospital-acquired infections.
• Drug resistance: Candida auris is difficult to treat because of its resistance to many antifungal drugs.

Research and findings

According to the authors of the research paper, the new clade of C. auris shows close affinity with members of clade IV, more commonly found in South America. The discovery indicates previously unknown genetic diversity and place of origin of C. auris.

Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), in collaboration with the clinic, used machine learning to track down the new C. auris clade. They reconstructed the genomes of the new pathogen and confirmed that it was distinct from the previously known five clades.

Additional cases and findings

Two additional cases of infection with the new type of Candida auris were identified in the hospital archives. The studies showed that the new pathogens were sensitive to the antifungal drugs tested.

Researchers emphasised the importance of clinical surveillance, finding effective sequencing strategies and genetic analysis to identify new strains of C. auris, track their spread and contain adverse effects.