Skin-resident T cells play an important role in controlling skin colonization of Candidozyma (Candida) auris.

Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that can colonize the skin for a long time, enabling its prolonged transmission. Understanding the immune mechanisms that control skin colonization of C. auris is critical for the development of immune-based preventive and therapeutic strategies. In this study, we dissected the roles of T cells in controlling C. auris skin colonization using mouse models. We found that the inhibition of T cell infiltration into the skin had little effect on C. auris colonization. On the other hand, CCR10-knockout mice defective in the homeostatic establishment of skin-resident T cells had increased C. auris skin colonization despite enhanced IL-17+ T cell responses. Furthermore, we identified CD8+ skin-resident T cells as an important T cell population in controlling C. auris colonization. Together, our findings reveal that skin-resident but not infiltrating T cells play a dominant role in controlling C. auris skin colonization.