Fig. 6. Candida auris produces pseudohypae in response to hemolymph.

Following incubation of C. auris with hemolymph, the yeast get encapsulated with melanin by 120 min (a, b). Pseudohyphae form clearly by 480 min, while not eliciting a melanization response (c, inset); however, after ~720 min, there is a sharp increase in melanization within the hemolymph (d). A representative graph of the melanization in response to C. auris over time is shown in e. The cell morphologies were confirmed as pseudohyphae through light microscopy at ×100 magnification (e.g., red arrows), while the presence of enlarged giant cells was occasionally noted (h, white arrows) and dense clusters of yeast (h, yellow arrows). i Melanized aggregates of C. auris can be seen in G. mellonella larvae following tissue clearing. Melanized clusters of fungi can be seen in the head capsule (j), associated with trachea (k, t label) and freely within the tissue (l). In these melanized areas, we can see aggregates of yeast (m, yellow arrows) and pseudohyphae (n, o, red arrows). All panels are representative images and data from three independent replicates. Scale bars in panel i represent 50 mm, j–l represent 500 µm, a–d represent 100 µm, while f–h, m–o represent 10 µm.