# Experimental Evolution of Pathogenic Candida spp.: Insights into Adaptive Processes and Evolutionary Dynamics

## TL;DR

This review explores how pathogenic Candida species adapt and develop antifungal resistance through experimental evolution, highlighting genome plasticity as a key driver.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of experimental evolution in Candida spp., emphasizing genome plasticity and antifungal resistance dynamics.

## Key findings

- Genome plasticity, including aneuploidy and copy number variation, is central to Candida's rapid adaptation.
- Azole resistance has been widely studied, but echinocandin and polyene resistance remain underexplored.
- Current research lacks broad species coverage and combined therapy evaluations.

## Abstract

Among Candida species, several are major opportunistic fungal pathogens capable of causing a wide spectrum of infections, ranging from superficial mucosal conditions to severe systemic diseases. Their success as human pathogens is largely due to their ability to rapidly adapt to diverse host environments and develop resistance to antifungal agents. Experimental evolution provides a powerful framework for understanding these adaptive processes by observing evolutionary change in real-time. Although most studies rely on in vitro systems and a limited set of Candida species, there is strong evidence that genome plasticity, including aneuploidy, loss of heterozygosity, and copy number variation, plays a central role in driving rapid adaptation. Experimental evolution has also been applied to study the dynamics of antifungal resistance, particularly to azoles, although relatively fewer studies have explored resistance to echinocandins and polyenes. This review summarizes current knowledge on experimental evolution in pathogenic Candida species, with a focus on genome plasticity, adaptation to host-imposed stress, and particularly on the emergence of antifungal resistance. It also identifies critical research gaps, including the need for broader species coverage, investigation of underexplored antifungal classes, and evaluation of combined therapies. A deeper understanding of these dynamics is essential to improve antifungal strategies and counter the growing threat of drug-resistant Candida spp. infections.