Development of a Novel Method for the Clinical Visualization and Rapid Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris

X. R. Zhang; T. Ma; Y. C. Wang; S. Hu; Y. Yang

doi:10.1128/spectrum.04912-22

Microbiology Spectrum (Jun 2023)

Development of a Novel Method for the Clinical Visualization and Rapid Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris

X. R. Zhang,
T. Ma,
Y. C. Wang,
S. Hu,
Y. Yang

Affiliations

X. R. Zhang: Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Molecular Diagnosis Technologies for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
T. Ma: Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Molecular Diagnosis Technologies for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Y. C. Wang: Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Molecular Diagnosis Technologies for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
S. Hu: Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Molecular Diagnosis Technologies for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Y. Yang: Bioinformatics Center of AMMS, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Molecular Diagnosis Technologies for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04912-22
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 3

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Candida auris infections, associated with a mortality rate of 30% to 60%, are of serious global concern. Candida auris demonstrates high transmission rates in hospital settings; however, its rapid and accurate identification using currently available clinical identification techniques is challenging. In this study, we developed a rapid and effective method for detecting C. auris based on recombinase-aided amplification combined with lateral flow strips (RAA-LFS). We also screened the appropriate reaction conditions. Furthermore, we investigated the specificity and sensitivity of the detection system and its ability to distinguish other fungal strains. Candida auris was accurately identified and differentiated from related species at 37°C within 15 min. The minimum detection limit was 1 CFU (or 10 fg/reaction) and was not affected by high concentrations of related species or host DNA. The simple and cost-efficient detection method established in this study exhibited high specificity and sensitivity and successfully detected C. auris in simulated clinical samples. Compared with other traditional detection methods, this method greatly reduces the time and cost of testing and is thus suitable for hospitals or clinics in remote underfunded areas for screening C. auris infection and colonization. IMPORTANCE Candida auris is a highly lethal, multidrug-resistant, invasive fungus. However, conventional methods of C. auris identification are time-consuming and laborious and have low sensitivity and high error rates. In this study, a new molecular diagnostic method based on recombinase-aided amplification combined with lateral flow strips (RAA-LFS) was developed, and accurate results could be obtained by catalyzing the reaction at body temperature for 15 min. This method can be used for rapid clinical detection of C. auris, consequently saving valuable treatment time for patients.

Published in Microbiology Spectrum

ISSN: 2165-0497 (Online)
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://journals.asm.org/journal/spectrum

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