# Characterizing Candida auris skin colonization and high-burden biofilm formation

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2022 · $233,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris resides on skin and spreads rapidly person-to-person in
healthcare settings, a trait unique to this species. C. auris skin colonization places patients at risk for invasive
infection, a diagnosis that accompanies a mortality rate as high as 60%. Further understanding of C. auris skin
colonization is urgently needed for the development of innovative approaches to prevent spread of this drug-
resistant and deadly pathogen. Our studies show that C. auris forms adherent biofilm structures in skin
conditions in vitro and on porcine skin. Little is known about factors triggering this process or the fungal
components involved in biofilm formation. The first objective of this application is to identify skin conditions and
factors that promote C. auris biofilm growth and skin colonization. These data are essential to uncover fungal
pathways involved in this process and to identify new approaches to prevent or reduce colonization.
Furthermore, our compelling preliminary data show that skin niche biofilms exhibit a heightened capacity to
produce a cohesive, extracellular matrix material. Our second objective is to characterize the components of
this extracellular material. Knowledge of the matrix composition is critical to identify targets to disrupt the C.
auris biofilms involved in skin colonization. These studies will provide the first insights into mechanisms of skin
colonization for this emerging global public health threat. We anticipate the results of these studies will have
broad implications for designing approaches to prevent skin colonization and transmission of this drug-resistant
fungal pathogen.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10338191
- **Project number:** 5R21AI159583-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeniel E Nett
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $233,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-02-03 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10338191

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10338191, Characterizing Candida auris skin colonization and high-burden biofilm formation (5R21AI159583-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10338191. Licensed CC0.

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