In a taxonomic study of yeasts isolated from flowers in Cagayan de Oro, Mindenao Island, The Philippines, strains were identified as representing Kabatiella microsticta, Metschnikowia koreensis and a hitherto undescribed dimorphic species. Sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU 26S rRNA genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the SSU 18S rRNA genes were identical in the strains of the last-named group and differed from the corresponding sequences of the type strain of the closest related species, Candida duobushaemulonii, by 4 % (D1/D2), 7 % (ITS) and 1 % (SSU). In an independent study, a strain with D1/D2 and ITS sequences very similar to those of the Philippine strains was isolated in Malaysia from the blood of a patient dying of aspiration pneumonia. Both groups of isolates were moderately sensitive to anidulafungin, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole but resistant to amphotericin B. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the sequences placed the Philippine and Malaysian isolates close to the Candida haemulonis complex of Candida species. To reflect the geographical location of the sites of sample collection, the novel species name Candida vulturna pro tempore sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain is 11-1170T (=CBS 14366T=CCY 094-001-001T=NCAIM-Y02177T) isolated in Cagayan de Oro, The Philippines. Mycobank: MB 817222.

Non-albicans Candida species are emerging in the nosocomial environment, with the multidrug-resistant species Candida auris being the most notorious example. Consequently, rapid and accurate species identification has become essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate five commercially available chromogenic media for the presumptive identification of C. auris. Two novel chromogenic formulations, CHROMagarTM Candida Plus (Chromagar) and HiCromeTM C. auris MDR Selective Agar (HiMedia), and three reference media, CandiSelectTM (Bio-Rad), CHROMagarTM Candida (Chromagar), and ChromaticTM Candida (Liofilchem) were inoculated with a collection of 9 genetically diverse C. auris strains and 35 strains from closely related comparator species. After 48h of incubation the media were evaluated for their ability to detect and identify C. auris. All media had the same limitations in the differentiation of the more common species Candida dubliniensis and Candida glabrata. Only on CHROMagarTM Candida Plus, C. auris colonies developed a species-specific coloration. Nevertheless, the closely related pathogenic species Candida pseudohaemulonii and Candida vulturna developed a similar appearance as C. auris on this medium. CHROMagarTM Candida Plus showed to be superior in the detection and identification of C. auris, with 100% inclusivity for C. auris compared to 0% and 33% for the reference media and HiCromeTM C. auris MDR Selective agar, respectively. Although C. vulturna and C. pseudohaemulonii can cause false positives, CHROMagarTM Candida Plus showed to be a valuable addition to the plethora of mostly molecular methods for C. auris detection and identification.

Prototheca wickerhamii isolated from blood of 61-year-old kidney transplant patient was described. Although it is classified as an alga (genus Chlorella), the disease, protothecosis, is included under mycoses because of its clinical pathological presentations. Colony characteristics of P. wickerhamii are indistinguishable from other yeast-like organisms like Cryptococcus and Candida. Fortunately, commercial identification system for yeast can be used to identify this organism to the species level. Electron microscopy demonstrated "morula" or daisy-like appearance of its endosporulating sporangia. The organism was sensitive to amphotericin B by E test method. Even though human protothecosis is uncommon, it cannot be ignored because it is emerging as an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of disseminated algaemia due to P. wickerhamii in Malaysia.

We report a fatal case of Candida auris that was involved in mixed candidemia with Candida tropicalis, isolated from the blood of a neutropenic patient. Identification of both isolates was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 domain of large subunit in rRNA gene. Antifungal susceptibility test by E-test method revealed that C. auris was resistant to amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole. On the other hand, C. tropicalis was sensitive to all antifungal tested. The use of chromogenic agar as isolation media is vital in detecting mixed candidemia.

Candida vulturna is a new member of the Candida haemulonii species complex that recently received much attention as it includes the emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen Candida auris. Here, we describe the high-quality genome sequence of C. vulturna type strain CBS 14366 T to cover all genomes of pathogenic C. haemulonii species complex members.Keywords Candida vulturna Á Candida haemulonii species complex Á Nanopore sequencing Á Emerging pathogen Á De novo genome assembly supported by the Stichting Odo van Vloten Foundation, The Netherlands.