Metabolic and Transcriptional alterations in Candida auris during Interaction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

While interactions between P. aeruginosaand Candida albicans have been widely studied, comparatively little is known about the emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen Candida auris. This study aimed to determine whether early growth inhibition of C. auris in co-culture with P. aeruginosa results from carbon depletion or micronutrient limitation, particularly iron restriction.

Co-culture experiments demonstrated significantly reduced fungal proliferation despite preserved glucose availability, suggesting that carbon limitation is not the primary driver of growth inhibition. Transcriptomic analysis revealed strong upregulation of ribosome biogenesis and translation-associated genes, indicating increased translational capacity under competitive conditions. In contrast, genes involved in sterol and fatty acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and cell surface organization were consistently downregulated.