Etiological Analysis and Molecular Typing of 8 Candida auris Isolates from Nanjing, China
Objective: To investigate the drug resistance characteristics and molecular mechanisms of Candida auris clinical isolates in Nanjing. Methods: A total of 8 C. auris isolates were collected from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in Nanjing between January 2024 and April 2025. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed on these isolates. Results: All the isolates belonged to the South Asian clade (Clade I). Except for one patient, all the remaining patients had a history of invasive procedures. The resistance rate to fluconazole was 100%, and the Y132F mutation of the ERG11 gene was detected in all the isolates. For the first time in this region, a 57-amino-acid deletion at the N-terminus of the potential transcription factor UPC2 protein was identified in one azole cross-resistant isolate. Conclusion: C. auris isolates in this region exhibit the characteristics of clonal transmission. The deletion mutation of the UPC2 gene may be involved in the mechanism of azole cross-resistance, which suggests that it is necessary to strengthen active screening and infection control measures.