Can a Django application authenticate with MySQL using its linux user?

Can a Django application authenticate with MySQL using its linux user?

The company I work for is starting development of a Django business
application that will use MySQL as the database engine. I'm looking for a
way to keep from having database credentials stored in a plain-text config
file.
I'm coming from a Windows/IIS background where a vhost can impersonate an
existing Windows/AD user, and then use those credentials to authenticate
with MS SQL Server.
As an example: If the Django application is running with
apache2+mod_python on an Ubuntu server, would it be sane to add a
"www-data" user to MySQL and then let MySQL verify the credentials using
its PAM module?
Hopefully some of that makes sense. Thanks in advance!