Lab mistake reveals how deadly fungus Candida auris beats antifungal drugs

A study in Nature Communications found that Candida auris survives anidulafungin treatment by duplicating its genome and acquiring mutations in the CRZ1 gene. The fungus has a 45% death rate once in the bloodstream, with 6,304 U.S. clinical cases in 2024.

• Candida auris bloodstream infections have a 45% death rate
• The CDC counted 6,304 U.S. clinical cases in 2024
• Surviving cells duplicated their genome and carried CRZ1 mutations
• Extra DNA copies disappeared after a day without the drug