Emergence of Candida auris - A Human Isolate with Atorvastatin as a Growth Promoter

Mohannad Khalid Amin Attas, Salma Naqvi, Vikas Kumar, Fahad A. Al-Abbasi, Sultan Alhayyani and Firoz Anwar

Background and Objective: The fungal infection, caused by the newly discovered highly resistant Candida auris was a major health threat before COVID-19. The concept of drug repurposing not only addresses the issue of microbial resistance, but also is an easy way to bypass costly and time-consuming novel drug development. Rationale: Statins which are therapeutically used for the treatment of atherosclerosis, have exhibited some antifungal actions against various fungal spp. Although, no such study was conducted on C. auris. Based on the anti-HMG-CoA reductase activity on ergosterol synthesis, we elucidated the effect of Atorvastatin at the clinically administered human dose (0.055g), on Candida auris. Materials and Methods: Candida auris was isolated from an adult male diabetic patient and was identified on the VITEK system and confirmed on MALDI-TOF MS with 99% accuracy. It was cultured on 24 g potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Pure atorvastatin was incorporated in culture plates, incubated at 37°C observed for fungal growth. Results: Initially no growth was observed in the first twenty-four hours, but an unexpected growth was observed after 48 hours, and the colonization further doubled in 96 hours. Conclusion: Atorvastatin was repurposed in C. auris due to its anti-HMGCoA reductase activity on ergosterol synthesis. The observation raises cautions among the patients on atorvastatin therapy at the clinically administered human dose (0.055 g), on a clinical isolate of C. auris isolate. Our investigation provides an awareness that the patients on a statin-therapy should be highly cautious about C. auris infection and must take appropriate measures to prevent the infection.

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