Threats from the Candida parapsilosis complex: the surge of multidrug resistance and a hotbed for new emerging pathogens

Abstract

Candida parapsilosis is a common agent of candidiasis that has gained increased attention in recent years, culminating with its recent consideration as a high-priority fungal pathogen by the World Health Organization. Reasons for this classification are the recent surge in incidence and the alarmingly growing rates of drug and multidrug resistance. In addition, several closely related species such as Candida metapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis may represent recently emerged opportunistic pathogens originated from environmental niches through interspecies hybridization. Here, I review recent research focused on the potential origin and spread of drug resistance and of emerging species in this complex. I will also discuss open questions regarding the possible implications of human activities in these two epidemiological phenomena.

T.G. acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant numbers PID2021-126067NB-I00, CPP2021-008552, PCI2022-135066-2, and PDC2022-133266-I00), cofounded by ERDF “A way of making Europe,” as well as support from the Catalan Research Agency (AGAUR; grant number SGR01551), European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant number ERC-2016–724173); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (grant number GBMF9742); “La Caixa” foundation (grant number LCF/PR/HR21/00737), and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IMPACT grant IMP/ 00019 and CIBERINFEC CB21/13/00061- ISCIII-SGEFI/ERDF)

Postprint (author's final draft)