Understanding why Candida auris resists antifungal drugs
Mapping the genomic and molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris
Researchers are looking at the genes and molecules in Candida auris that make it resistant to common antifungal medicines to help people with drug-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322560 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will analyze fungal samples taken from people with Candida auris infections. Scientists will compare whole-genome data and gene activity across many clinical and experimentally evolved isolates to find genetic changes linked to drug resistance. They will use CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to change suspected resistance genes and see whether those changes cause resistance. The team will focus on known candidates like ERG11 and transcription factors such as TAC1B and MRR1A while searching for novel mechanisms unique to C. auris.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people who currently have or recently had a Candida auris infection and can provide a clinical isolate or related clinical information.
Not a fit: People without Candida auris infection or those whose infections are caused by unrelated fungi are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to faster diagnostics and more effective treatments for people with antifungal-resistant C. auris infections.
How similar studies have performed: Related genetic and gene-editing approaches have uncovered resistance mechanisms in other Candida species and early work has found some resistance mutations in C. auris, but many mechanisms remain unconfirmed.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogers, P. David — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rogers, P. 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 below.