How Candida albicans switches between two cell types
Mechanisms of White-Opaque Switching in Candida albicans
This project looks at how the fungus Candida albicans flips between white and opaque cell types to help people who get Candida infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11226573 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will read about researchers studying the genetic switch that lets Candida albicans make two different cell types from the same genome. They focus on a large transcription circuit called the white–opaque switch and use fungal cells and related clinical isolates in lab experiments to map the molecular steps involved. The team will test what keeps each cell type stable and how switching affects the fungus’s ability to grow and cause infection in mammals. Results will be compared across strains to link lab findings with the types of Candida that infect people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people who can provide clinical Candida samples, such as those with recurrent or invasive Candida infections, or clinicians who can supply isolates.
Not a fit: People without Candida infections or those whose conditions are unrelated to Candida are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal weak points in the fungus that lead to new ways to prevent or treat Candida infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have documented white–opaque switching and links to virulence, but the detailed molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Alexander D — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Alexander D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.