Biology subjects

Phan-Canh, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Phan-Canh, T..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Candida-Klebsiella interactions rewire fungal morphogenesis to create a host environment favoring pathogen survival with enhanced tissue pathology

Clinically relevant infections commonly develop within polymicrobial environments where interkingdom interactions shape host responses and disease trajectories. Candida albicans and Klebsiella pneumoniae are critical pathogens that can co-exist in the respiratory tract, yet the consequences of their interaction in terms of fungal physiology, pathogenicity and impact on disease outcomes remain poorly understood. Here, we show that K. pneumoniae enhances C. albicans virulence traits suggesting that co-infections could exacerbate lung disease. Mechanistically, bacterial presence induces fungal hyphal morphogenesis via MAPK-CEK signaling, coupled to metabolic rewiring and alterations in cell wall remodeling and septation, resulting in highly elongated hyphae that escape faster from macrophages. At the host level, co-infection reprograms macrophages into a non-canonical state characterized by overlapping pro- and anti-inflammatory modules, integrating type I interferon and IL-10 signaling. This response contributes to tissue damage and facilitates fungal persistence. Our findings reveal that the bacterial-fungal interactions coordinately reprogram pathogen behavior and host immunity, promoting pathogenic synergy and potentially conferring a negative impact on disease outcomes. HIGHLIGHTSCandida-Klebsiella interactions modulate hyphal morphogenesis. Ectopic morphogenesis encompasses septation, cell wall remodeling and carbon metabolism. Candida-Klebsiella co-infections trigger tissue hyperinflammation and compensatory regulation. Candida-Klebsiella co-infection establishes a host environment facilitating microbial dissemination and tissue pathology. Candida-Klebsiella interactions enhance fungal virulence potentially impacting the severity of co-infections

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Candida auris can acquire antifungal resistance without selection pressure

The human fungal pathogen Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) can cause prolonged infection outbreaks with high mortality rates in healthcare settings. Treatment failures of patients arise not only from antifungal drug resistance, but also from intra-species variability in pathogenicity as well as induced hypermutation events in response to clinical therapy. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify genetic mutations using the CDC mycoSNPs pipeline. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods. We report here that the interlaboratory exchange of C. auris clinical isolates dried on sterile filter paper, resulted in the emergence of at least three distinct morphotypes following reconstitution. These distinct morphotypes exhibited differences in drug resistance and morphogenesis, linked to the accumulation of mutations in genes associated with azole and echinocandin resistance. Using whole genome sequencing, we identified several variants in TAC1B, MRR1 and FKS2 that correlate with altered drug susceptibilities. Experiments recapitulating filter paper shipment conditions revealed genetic and epigenetic changes, explaining the morphogenetic switching and altered azole resistance. Our findings demonstrate that C. auris can acquire mutations affecting drug resistance traits even in the absence of antifungal exposure, raising concerns about shipment preparation procedures across mycology laboratories. The results are of broad relevance for the medical mycology community, as they call for standardized protocols for exchanging clinical strains, but also experiments to verify phenotypic traits between laboratories. ImportancePathogenesis and antifungal drug resistance traits of Candida auris vary widely across clinical strains and are often attributed to elevated mutation rates. In fungal pathogen research, clinical strains are commonly exchanged between laboratories by transfer on filter paper, a convenient and widely used practice. However, in the case of a C. auris clinical strain received from a collaborating laboratory, we identified multiple acquired mutations. These genetic alterations caused marked changes in morphogenesis and antifungal susceptibility, demonstrating that resistance in C. auris can arise without antifungal selection pressure. Our findings highlight the potential for genetic and phenotypic diversification during routine strain handling and underscore the need for standardized protocols for exchanging clinical C. auris strains across mycology laboratories.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Identification of Acinetobacter baumannii and detection of beta - lactam antibiotic resistance genes in clinical samples by multiplex PCR

Acinetobacter baumannii is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infection in Vietnam. Of note, antibiotic resistance genes are significantly popular in clinical isolates of A. baumannii. Therefore, rapid identification of A. baumannii and determination of antibiotic resistance genes will help to make effective clinical decisions related to antibiotic use. This paper proposes a multiplex PCR to identify Acinetobacter baumannii and detect their {beta}-lactam antibiotic resistance genes in clinical isolates. Multiplex PCR was applied to amplified recA gene and region ITS 16S - 23S rDNA for Rapid detection of A. baumannii. The two antibiotic resistance genes - blaOXA-51-like, ampC gene - were detected by multiplex PCR and three genes coding Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases - blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV genes - were subjected to PCR. 49 bacteria strains were subjected to colony PCR. The result showed that 46 strains were A. baumannii and 3 strains belonged to the genus Acinetobacter. The multiplex PCR showed that all of 46 A. baumannii containing the blaOXA-51-like gene and the AmpC gene; 34 strains possess the gene blaTEM and none of them has blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes. The results of the multiplex PCR are the same as those of the in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing of A. baumannii. However, applying the multiplex PCR directly from the bacteria colony, we can proceed simultaneously with the bacterial identification and the antibiotic resistance gene detection. Highlights O_LI100% of isolates of A. baumannii contains the blaOXA-51-like gene and the AmpC gene. C_LIO_LI34/46 isolates possess the gene blaTEM, however, do not contain blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes. C_LIO_LICombined disc test with cefotaxime/clavulanic acid/boronic acid is an excellent method to analyse ESBL phenotype. C_LI

microbiology↗