Comparative Genomics and Pathogenicity of Agents of Human and Animal Fungal Infections

Clinical Center

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Abstract

Fungal infections are considered a major threat to human health worldwide. Annually, over one billion people are believed to suffer from fungal infections and/or allergies. Fungal diseases also kill more than 1.5 million each year. Individuals who are at greatest risk of life-threatening fungal infections include individuals with weakened immunity (e.g., primary or acquired immunodeffiecnices), cancer, trauma, or those who have received organ transplants and are undergoing corticosteroid therapy. Significant changes in the epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases have occurred over the last decade, with a number of newly emerging fungal pathogens affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. In this study, we will use functional genomics, proteomics, microbiological, pre-clinical, and translational research approaches to study molecular diversity, epidemiology and infection biology of pathogenic opportunistic fungi isolated from hospitalized patients underlying primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. The fungal isolates are mainly isolated from patients enrolled in clinical trials, who come from various locations throughout the world. We them compare them with them with fungal species of animal origin with similar thermo-dimorphic and virulence behavior. The patterns of susceptibility to currently available antifungals will be evaluated.