Dissemination of Candida auris to deep organs in neonatal murine invasive candidiasis

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug resistant fungal pathogen, which represents a major challenge for newborns systemic infections worldwide. Management of C. auris infections is complicated due to its intrinsic antifungal resistance and the limited information available on its pathogenesis, particularly during neonatal period. In this study, we developed a murine model of C. auris neonatal invasive infection. C. auris dissemination was evaluated by fungal burden and histopathological analysis of lung, brain, liver, kidney, and spleen at different time intervals. We found fungal cells in all the analyzed tissues, neonatal liver and brain were the most susceptible tissues to fungal invasion. This model will help to better understand pathogenesis mechanisms and facilitate strategies for control and prevention of C. auris infections in newborns. •We developed a neonatal model of intravenous C. auris infection using 0-days-old mice.•Invasive candidiasis was not lethal during the 21 days of the study.•C. auris spread to all deep tissues evaluated in newborn mice, but fungal burden decreased progressively during infection.•The brain was the most susceptible tissue to invasion by C. auris during invasive candidiasis.