Abu Dhabi researchers detect rare fungal pathogen through pioneering wastewater surveillance
A groundbreaking scientific collaboration has identified a previously undetected genetic variant of Candida auris in Abu Dhabi's wastewater, marking a significant advancement in environmental health monitoring and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.
The Reference and Surveillance Intelligence Department at the Central Testing Laboratory of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, in partnership with M42, has achieved a notable scientific milestone through the successful detection and isolation of a rare genetic clade of Candida auris, an antifungal-resistant fungal pathogen, via Abu Dhabi’s sophisticated wastewater early surveillance system.
The research, published in Communications Medicine as part of Nature Portfolio, represents the first documented regional identification of Candida auris Clade VI through environmental wastewater surveillance. This discovery substantially enriches the scientific understanding of the pathogen’s genetic diversity and supports comprehensive assessment of emerging health risks within the emirate’s public health framework.
The investigation encompassed analysis of more than 23,000 wastewater samples collected systematically across Abu Dhabi. Researchers successfully isolated the fungus directly from wastewater specimens and confirmed its identity through rigorous laboratory methodology, transcending the limitations of genetic detection alone. The comprehensive scientific approach incorporated Whole Genome Sequencing, genomic and phylogenetic analysis, antifungal susceptibility testing and investigation of genetic markers associated with resistance patterns.
Samara Bin Salem, Director of RASID, emphasised that the achievement demonstrates the profound capacity of environmental surveillance to identify emerging health indicators and patterns of drug resistance, transforming raw data into scientifically rigorous information. She explained that combining laboratory isolation, whole genome sequencing and antifungal susceptibility testing enabled precise identification of Clade VI and a deeper understanding of its genomic characteristics and resistance profiles.
The research highlights the essential role of wastewater surveillance as a complementary source of information alongside conventional health and clinical surveillance, enabling monitoring of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance indicators to enhance preparedness and facilitate proactive response strategies. Candida auris has garnered considerable international attention due to its capacity to develop resistance to multiple antifungal agents and the challenges inherent in managing it within certain healthcare environments. The World Health Organisation has classified this pathogen within the Critical Priority Group of fungal pathogens.
The findings demonstrate the potential of wastewater surveillance to provide intelligence on genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance indicators and emerging risks, supporting increasingly proactive approaches to environmental health monitoring. This achievement reflects RASID’s evolution from conventional laboratory testing towards an advanced integrated system incorporating environmental surveillance, genomic sciences, data analysis and emerging risk foresight. These sophisticated capabilities provide Abu Dhabi’s public health system with environmental and scientific data that complement health information in assessing risks and strengthening preparedness.
Source: WAM