Understanding how a fungus adapts to stress in the human body
Official title: The role of C. neoformans Hog1 and its effectors in translatome reprogramming
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10974014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans, which can make people with weak immune systems sick, changes its behavior when it faces stress in the body, focusing on a protein named Hog1 that helps it adapt, with the hope of finding better ways to fight these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $34,599 |
| NIH project number | 5F31AI169969-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10974014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with compromised immune systems who are at risk of infections from opportunistic pathogens like Cryptococcus neoformans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with healthy immune systems are unlikely to benefit from this research as they are not at risk for infections caused by this fungus.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, which can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems, adapts to stress within the human body. The focus is on a specific signaling pathway involving a protein called Hog1, which plays a crucial role in how the fungus changes its protein production in response to stress. By studying the interactions and mechanisms of Hog1, researchers aim to uncover how these adaptations affect the fungus's ability to survive and cause disease. This could lead to new insights into how to combat infections caused by this pathogen.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for treating infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding fungal pathogenesis through similar signaling pathway investigations, indicating that this approach has potential.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goich, David — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Goich, David
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.