New Therapeutic Candidate Against C. auris Identified

Researchers discovered the elimination of a gene was enough to stop the fungus from growing.

June 25, 2026

Key Highlights

Candida auris is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs and spreads rapidly in healthcare settings.
The TRK1 gene is crucial for the fungus's growth, controlling potassium transport necessary for colonization.
Eliminating TRK1 stops the fungus from growing, presenting a promising target for new antifungal drugs.
TRK1 has no equivalent in animals, suggesting potential treatments could be safe for humans.
This discovery could lead to effective therapies against drug-resistant Candida auris, reducing mortality rates.

6a3d4a68656991e325ba91b3 Candida Auris 2

A new therapeutic candidate against Candida auris has been identified by a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

C. auris has alarmed health officials worldwide because of its “ability to resist multiple antifungal drugs and spread rapidly through hospitals and care facilities.”

The research team was funded by NIH, and it “closely studied the yeast in search of any weaknesses that could be exploited in the fight against it.” Certain strains of C. auris are resistant to all three major classes of antifungal drugs. Between 30 and 60 percent of patients who develop an infection die, “usually due to sepsis after the fungus enters the bloodstream after getting inside the body.” Most infections respond to an intravenous medication, but “even that is showing signs of vulnerability.”

Researchers discovered that “the elimination of a single gene [TRK1] was enough to stop the fungus from growing.” TRK1 “controls a protein by the same name that transports the potassium required for Candida auris to grow and colonize skin and other surfaces.” The gene also has no counterpart in animals, suggesting that “potential drug candidates that target the fungus may be safe in humans.”