Why the common gut yeast Candida albicans stays harmless or becomes harmful
Molecular mechanisms of Candida albicans gut colonization
Looking at the fungal genes and switches Candida uses to live quietly in the gut and what makes it overgrow and cause infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab and mouse models to watch how Candida albicans turns certain genes on and off while living in the gut. They will test a library of over 700 genetically tagged yeast strains and use a new technique that permanently marks where fungal proteins bind DNA to map regulatory activity. The team will focus on key transcription factors (like Efg1, Wor1, and Czf1) and compare gene activity across mutants to find the fungal components that promote harmless gut life or trigger escape and disease. This work aims to reveal targets that could become the basis for better diagnostics or treatments down the road.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had recurrent or severe Candida infections, or who are immunocompromised and at higher risk for fungal overgrowth, are most likely to benefit from findings or be relevant for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to fungal colonization or those seeking an immediate new therapy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory and animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new ways to detect, prevent, or treat serious Candida infections by revealing the fungal genes that drive harmless colonization versus disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies have identified some genes linked to Candida colonization, but this project pairs a novel genomic tagging method with transcriptomics to map transcription factor activity in a more comprehensive and permanent way.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noble, Suzanne M — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Noble, Suzanne 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.