New Delhi, Sep 17 (NationPress) A dedicated group of scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has introduced a groundbreaking strategy to combat the fungal pathogen known as ‘Candida albicans’ (CAL).

Candida albicans serves as the leading cause of systemic candidiasis, posing a significant global health challenge with a mortality rate soaring up to 63.6% in severe cases.

The research team, comprising experts from Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, established a multidisciplinary method to pinpoint essential metabolic pathways that can be targeted to alter the pathogen's virulence.

By merging extensive computational modeling with experimental validation, the researchers uncovered previously unknown critical metabolic weaknesses in CAL.

“In contrast to other investigations, this unique integrated host-fungal metabolic model combined the CAL model iRV781 with the human metabolic framework Recon3D,” stated Dr. Susan Thomas, corresponding author and principal investigator from ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai.

This innovative approach enabled the team to emulate how CAL metabolism reacts during a host infection, identify hidden metabolic vulnerabilities that are not visible in laboratory cultures, and emphasize the importance of arginine metabolism in CAL pathogenicity, Dr. Thomas elaborated.

“This pioneering research is crucial for diversifying and enhancing antifungal treatments to overcome resistance. Moreover, it seeks to bolster patient survival rates, decrease mortality, and minimize treatment expenses,” remarked Prof. Karthik Raman, a faculty member at IBSE, WSAI, IIT Madras.

The results, published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Cell Communication and Signaling, further highlight India’s increasing prominence in interdisciplinary research and its capacity to offer valuable solutions.

Candida albicans is a type of fungus (yeast) that typically resides in the human body as a component of the normal microbiota. It is frequently present in the mouth, throat, gut, vagina, and on the skin without causing harm in healthy people.

It leads to ‘Systemic candidiasis’, a severe, invasive fungal infection instigated by Candida species (most commonly Candida albicans) that disseminates beyond the mouth, skin, or genital area into the bloodstream and internal organs.

The annual occurrence of invasive candidiasis in India is approximately 470,000 or 34/100,000 individuals. Worldwide, around 1,565,000 people experience a Candida bloodstream infection or invasive candidiasis yearly, resulting in 995,000 fatalities (63.6%).