Candida khanbhai sp. nov., a new clinically relevant yeast within the Candida haemulonii species complex.

Invasive fungal infections caused by non-albicans Candida species are increasingly reported. Recent advances in diagnostic and molecular tools enabled better identification and detection of emerging pathogenic yeasts. The Candida haemulonii species complex accommodates several rare and recently described pathogenic species, Candida duobushaemulonii, Candida pseudohaemulonii, Candida vulturna, and the most notorious example is the outbreak causing multi-drug resistant member Candida auris. Here, we describe a new clinically relevant yeast isolated from geographically distinct regions, representing the proposed novel species Candida khanbhai, member of the C. haemulonii species complex. Moreover, several members of the C. haemulonii species complex were observed to be invalidly described, including the clinically relevant species Candida auris and Candida vulturna. Hence, the opportunity was taken to correct this here, formally validating the names of C. auris, Candida chanthaburiensis, Candida konsanensis, Candida metrosideri, Candida ohialehuae, and C. vulturna.