Factors Regulating Candida auris Skin Colonization

 Candida auris, an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that colonize the human skin causes fatal infections in humans. We study how skin microbiota and host immune factors regulate the colonization and pathogenesis of  C. auris. Understanding the environmental signals controlling fungal colonization will provide strategies to modulate host and microbial signals to prevent and treat C. auris infections. 

Tharp et al. mSphere, 2023, Datta et al. Microbiology Spectrum, 2023, Carty et al. PLOS Pathogens, 2023, 

Balakumar et al. Trends in Microbiology, 2024, Bryak et al. mSphere, 2024, Towns, et al. Microbiology Spectrum, 2024, 

Balakumar et al. mSphere, 2024, Balakumar et al. PLOS Pathogens 2024, Das et al. PLOS Pathogens 2025

  Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that resides in the intestine causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals.  Using conventional and germ free mouse models, metabolomics and sequencing approaches, we aim to understand how gut commensal bacteria and metabolites interact with host to regulate the colonization, dissemination and pathogenesis of C. albicans. Guinan et al. Scientific Reports 2019, Gutierrez et al. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 2020, Thangamani et al. Journal of Fungi 2021, Datta et al, Journal of Fungi 2022 and Das et al. Frontiers in Immunology 2023.