Characterization of Metabolomic Response of Candida spp. to Heavy Metal Exposure

As a result of anthropogenic activities, contaminants such as heavy metals have been introduced into the environment. Microorganisms, including <i>Candida</i> spp., have emerged as a viable alternative for their removal; however, the mechanism responsible for the removal process has not been fully characterized. This study aims to identify the secretome of <i>Candida</i> strains (<i>C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis</i> and <i>C. tropicalis)</i> contributing to their ability to withstand heavy metals. For this purpose, <i>Candida</i> spp. cultures were incubated at 28 °C under agitation for 72 h and exposed to different concentrations of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The cultures were then analyzed using GC-MS. In <i>Candida</i> spp. cultures exposed to heavy metals, 117 different compounds were identified compared with the control cultures. Among all <i>Candida</i> spp., 15 metabolites showed a fold change greater than two compared to the control conditions. These included hydrocarbons (3), fatty acids (5), aromatic compounds (5), a nonaromatic compound (1) and an organosiloxane (1), which were identified in the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Cu and Zn).