Candida auris is among the most important emerging fungal pathogens, yet mechanistic insights into its immune recognition and control are lacking. Here, we integrate transcriptional and functional immune-cell profiling to uncover innate defence mechanisms against C. auris. C. auris induces a specific transcriptome in human mononuclear cells, a stronger cytokine response compared with Candida albicans, but a lower macrophage lysis capacity. C. auris-induced innate immune activation is mediated through the recognition of C-type lectin receptors, mainly elicited by structurally unique C. auris mannoproteins. In in vivo experimental models of disseminated candidiasis, C. auris was less virulent than C. albicans. Collectively, these results demonstrate that C. auris is a strong inducer of innate host defence, and identify possible targets for adjuvant immunotherapy.

耳念珠菌是最重要的新兴真菌病原体之一，但缺乏对其免疫识别和控制的机制见解。在这里，我们整合了转录和功能性免疫细胞分析，以揭示针对C. auris的先天防御机制。C. auris在人单核细胞中诱导特定的转录组，与白色念珠菌相比，细胞因子反应更强，但巨噬细胞裂解能力较低。C.auris诱导的先天免疫激活是通过识别 C 型凝集素受体介导的，主要由结构独特的C.auris甘露糖蛋白引发。播散性念珠菌病的体内实验模型，耳念珠菌比白色念珠菌毒性​​小。总的来说，这些结果表明C. auris是先天宿主防御的强诱导剂，并确定了辅助免疫治疗的可能靶点。