How the immune interferon response reacts to Candida bloodstream infections
Control of Type I Interferon Production in Response to Candida
This project will see if changing the type I interferon immune response helps people fight life‑threatening Candida bloodstream infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11225677 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are trying to understand how the body's type I interferon response reacts when Candida fungi enter the bloodstream. They found that tiny packets from Candida called extracellular vesicles carry DNA that turns on the cGAS‑STING pathway and drives interferon production. In lab work using cells and mice, they will test how altering proteins like TREX1 and STING changes infection severity for Candida albicans and drug‑resistant Candida auris. The goal is to learn whether blocking or adjusting this immune signal could reduce the high death rate from invasive Candida infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any future trials would be hospitalized patients with invasive candidemia or people at high risk of bloodstream Candida infections, including cases caused by Candida albicans or Candida auris.
Not a fit: Patients with mild or localized Candida infections (such as oral thrush or uncomplicated vaginal yeast infections) are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce deaths from invasive Candida bloodstream infections by targeting the interferon response.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies showed altering parts of the cGAS‑STING interferon pathway can change Candida outcomes, but translating this into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vyas, Jatin M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Vyas, Jatin M
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.