What metabolic pathways are important for disease progression?
We have shown that several biochemical pathways used to assimilate poor nutrients, such as fatty acids, ethanol, acetate and amino acids, are critical for disease progression in mice, and that mutations are less virulent in these animal models. Importantly, some of these pathways don’t exist in humans and might be attractive drug targets. 2. How are these metabolic pathways regulated? A huge literature exists on carbon metabolism in the model yeast S. cerevisiae, but we are learning that there are important differences in these systems in C. albicans. Given the close co-evolution of C. albicans and the mammalian host, we are interested in what these differences can tell us about the biology of this pathogen. 3. Does C. albicans manipulate the function of the immune system? We have evidence that not only does C. albicans respond to the presence of immune cells, but it can actively alter phagocyte function as well. These preliminary studies are highly intriguing and we are actively pursu
