Host- and echinocandin-induced stresses exert profound cell wall changes in Candida parapsilosis, conferring echinocandin tolerance and retaining fitness

In this study, we compared transcriptomic changes in four serial isolates of Candida parapsilosis from a single patient over three time points (90 minutes, 8 hours and 24 hours) and two growth conditions (biofilm and planktonic). The later serial isolates have increased fitness and are resistant to echinocandins compared to the initial strain. Using RNA-Seq, we identified strain-specific changes in expression of specific biological processes and cellular components including fungal-type cell wall and transmembrane transport. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiling of Candida parapsilosis serial isolates Cp9, Cp10, Cp11 and Cp12 derived from the bloodstream infection of a single patient, grown under planktonic and biofilm conditions for 90 minutes, 8 hours and 24 hours.