970. Emerging Pathogen Candida auris Evades Neutrophil Attack

Abstract

Candida auris, an emerging fungal pathogen, causes hospital-associated outbreaks of invasive candidiasis with mortality near 60%. Little is known about the pathogenesis of this species that has newly arisen in the last 10 years, and it is unclear why this species is rapidly spreading worldwide. Neutrophils, critical for control of invasive candidiasis, kill fungi through phagocytosis or the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are structures of DNA, histones, and proteins with antimicrobial activity. The objective of this study was to delineate the neutrophil response to C. auris.