Fungal infections are an overlooked global health problem, leading to approximately 3.75 million deaths per year. One of the most common fungal pathogens of humans are Candida sp. Global warming is anticipated to worsen the problem, having already been linked to the spontaneous emergence of the highly virulent Candida auris on three continents within the past 15 years. In addition to causing recurring candidiasis in 138 million women worldwide, Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause almost 1 million deaths per year. My goal is to understand molecular mechanisms of zinc uptake by the opportunistic Candida sp., which play a critical role in their pathogenicity. I will determine cryo-EM structures of Candida protein complexes as well as perform functional studies in vitro. This work will be completed by collaborative genetic studies and is a stepping stone towards a molecular understanding of potential therapeutic mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications.

2024

2028