# Fatty Acid Profiling Identification Method of Emerging Fungal Pathogen Candidozyma auris (Formally Candida auris)

## TL;DR

This study explores using fatty acid profiles to identify and classify the fungal pathogen Candidozyma auris, offering a new method for accurate detection.

## Contribution

The first report on using whole cell fatty acid components as taxonomic features for Candidozyma auris.

## Key findings

- Fatty acid profiles can distinguish C. auris from related species.
- Fatty acids provide distinctive profiles for different C. auris clades.
- The method accurately matches C. auris strains without misreading.

## Abstract

The species Candidozyma auris (formerly known as Candida auris) can be subdivided into four major and two minor clades. It is considered an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen that causes invasive outbreaks around the world. Therefore, the accurate identification of this species plays an important role in combating invasion and facilitating pathogenic management. In our study an optional identification method was developed considering the possibility of using cellular fatty acids (FAs) as a taxonomic and diagnostic tool. FAs were recorded in the collected C. auris strains, and the species characteristic components were determined. Within the isolates examined, the clades were also separated in the statistical analysis. Furthermore, FAs from strains belonging to clade I and II have been divided into two distinct clusters. In testing the performance of the method, all identified samples showed good matches with the established C. auris record in the database without misreading. Taken together, cellular fatty acids were investigated as potential discriminatory biomarkers. The results suggest that this approach can distinguish C. auris from related species and provides distinctive fatty acid profiles for the investigated C. auris clades. The present findings revealed the first report on the application of whole cell FA components as taxonomic features in C. auris.