How Fungi That Cause Infections Get Copper
Official title: Mechanisms for cellular copper import via secreted cuproproteins
Funded at Texas State University · NIH-11124715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how certain fungi, which can cause serious infections in people, gather a vital nutrient called copper to survive and grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Marcos, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $188,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM146716-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant for patients who suffer from fungal infections, as it explores the basic biology of these pathogens.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by fungal infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Copper is a necessary nutrient for many living things, including fungi that can make us sick. These fungi have special proteins that help them take in copper from their surroundings, which is crucial for their survival and ability to cause infection. This research aims to understand how these fungal proteins work and how variations in them affect their ability to collect copper. By learning more about these processes, we hope to find new ways to stop these harmful fungi.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how these fungi acquire copper could lead to new strategies for developing medicines to treat fungal infections.
How similar studies have gone: This project focuses on a newly identified class of copper-scavenging proteins in fungi, suggesting a novel and relatively unexplored area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas State University
San Marcos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peterson, Ryan Loren — Texas State University
- Study coordinator: Peterson, Ryan Loren
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.