Candida albicans -host interactions
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Concha Gil
ORCID (link)
Researcher ID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Pharmacy
Department
Microbiology and Parasitology
Research Area
Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
No
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
Candida albicans - host interactions
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
Our research is focused on the C. albicans- host interaction study and on the development of new strategies for the diagnosis of infectious diseases using invasive candidiasis as a model. Pathogen and host responses are evaluated at different molecular and particularly proteomic approaches such as shotgun, quantitative and targeted proteomics.
These studies shed light into the different virulence factors of Candida and the host response. Some of these investigations had unveiled the apoptosis of C. albicans inside the macrophages that was compared with other apoptotic inducers. These works are allowing to the study of the function of some unknown proteins. Global proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis under oxidative stress are allowing us to get more knowledge of the C. albicans mechanisms of evasion and regulated cell death. In addition, the role of Candida EVs in the biology and virulence of this yeast is currently studied by our group.
Concerning the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis, our group has identified different biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis using immunoproteomics and machine learning, some of them had been validated. Recently our group together the Proteomics Unit have set up the metaproteomics analysis of the gut microbiota and we are carrying out different collaborations. In addition, we are involved in the Human proteome project (HPP).
These studies shed light into the different virulence factors of Candida and the host response. Some of these investigations had unveiled the apoptosis of C. albicans inside the macrophages that was compared with other apoptotic inducers. These works are allowing to the study of the function of some unknown proteins. Global proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis under oxidative stress are allowing us to get more knowledge of the C. albicans mechanisms of evasion and regulated cell death. In addition, the role of Candida EVs in the biology and virulence of this yeast is currently studied by our group.
Concerning the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis, our group has identified different biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis using immunoproteomics and machine learning, some of them had been validated. Recently our group together the Proteomics Unit have set up the metaproteomics analysis of the gut microbiota and we are carrying out different collaborations. In addition, we are involved in the Human proteome project (HPP).
Research lines / projects proposed
Our research lines have as their main objective the study of Candida albicans-host interaction, with the ultimate goal of contributing with new strategies to combat invasive candidiasis. We are interested in the study of the C. albicans proteome along the interaction with macrophages and under oxidative and nitrosative stress conditions. We focus on quantitative proteomics and post-translational modifications of proteins (PTMs). Changes in phosphorylation, acetylation, nitrosylation and nitration will be studied. These studies will be performed using Data Independent Analysis (DIA) and will shed light on the biology of C. albicans and may reveal new therapeutic strategies. In addition, we will study the metaproteomics of faecal samples from patients with different infectious diseases in order to discover new biomarkers of the disease. The proposed projects are: 1. Analysis of the role of C. albicans Cub1 in the response to oxidative and nitrosative stress. 2. Comprehensive characterisation of EVs from C. albicans SC5314 (yeast and hyphae) and an azole-resistant clinical isolate. Computational analysis to identify EV markers. 3.Evaluation of the immunoprotective potential of C. albicans EVs in an immunocompromised mouse model of invasive candidiasis and cross-protection against C. parapsilosis. 4. Evaluation of the immunoprotective potential of C. albicans EVs in an immunocompromised mouse model of invasive candidiasis and cross-protection against C. parapsilosis. 5. Metaproteomics of faecal samples from patients with long covid.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
- Curriculum vitae- Two Letters of recommendation- Motivation letter
One Page Proposal
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