Research Projects

Pan-resistant Candida auris and limited antifungal options are causing a need for new therapeutic alternatives. Iron plays a crucial role in providing natural resistance to infections, and depletion of iron can lead to multidrug resistance. In Candida, iron depletion increases membrane fluidity, enhancing drug susceptibility. This study aims to investigate the impact of iron-chelation on C. auris antifungal drug susceptibility. Methods include observing growth and changes in fungal membrane components, testing different iron chelators in combination with antifungal drugs, and conducting transcriptome and animal studies to correlate results in-vivo. The expected outcome is that iron depletion can alter C.auris morphology and membrane composition, influencing drug susceptibility. Iron chelators alone or in combination with antifungals may significantly impact pathogenicity and survival of the yeast. stress-related genes and inflammatory cytokines can be differentially regulated under iron non-availability, leading to a marked decrease in mortality in systemic infection models.