Malassezia pachydermatis Raw sequence reads

Malassezia pachydermatis is a lipophilic yeast frequently associated with otitis externa and dermatological disorders in companion animals. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility of M. pachydermatis isolates from dogs and cats and investigate the genomic determinants of reduced susceptibility. Whole genome sequencing of ten representative isolates revealed polymorphisms in genes that play a key role in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, particularly in ERG11 and ERG1. While specific amino acid substitutions were linked with elevated MICs, no direct correlation with resistance was unequivocally established. Genomic analyses also uncovered chromosomal mutations and heterozygosity of certain isolates, suggesting that complex, multifactorial mechanisms can drive the development of drug resistance.