Understanding gene roles and network changes in Candida auris and related fungi
Discovery of gene function and dissection of network re-wiring in non-model fungi
Researchers will map gene activity and signaling changes in Candida auris and Candida albicans to build models that could help people affected by these fungal infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143098 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists will measure which genes are turned on or off across many conditions and use those patterns to build computer models that predict gene function. They will then test those predictions in the lab using genetic experiments to confirm which genes control key fungal behaviors. The team will also compare how regulatory networks are rewired between Candida albicans and the emerging pathogen Candida auris by examining both DNA-level (cis) and protein-level (trans) factors. These steps aim to reveal biological mechanisms that underlie how these fungi respond to the environment and to treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with current or recent Candida auris or Candida albicans infections, or those able to provide clinical fungal isolates, are the most directly relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or people with non-fungal conditions are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for antifungal drugs, improve understanding of how Candida auris causes disease, and guide better diagnostics or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar gene-network and co-expression approaches have produced useful gene-function predictions in model fungi like Saccharomyces and Candida albicans, but applying these methods to the newly emerging Candida auris is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Omeara, Teresa R. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Omeara, Teresa R.
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.