Regulatory networks controlling pathogenesis of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen which is the leading cause of invasive candidiasis, an increasingly drug resistant disease that attacks vulnerable populations. Candida albicans is interesting because it is a commensal organism present in human tissues that can become deadly in response to specific environmental cues. Understanding what governs the shift from harmless to invasive has become a focus of intense research around the world. Naturally, complex interactions at the sub-cellular level are responsible for recognizing the signals from the outside environment that cause physiological changes. This project builds on existing research and new technologies to gain a deeper understanding of these disease-causing interactions that exist at the DNA level. Specifically, we will use a novel ‘ChIP-SICAP’ technique to identify (co-)regulators of gene expression at the DNA level. Confirmatory studies will then be performed using ‘qPCR’ and ‘CRISPR/Cas9’ techniques to decipher the regulatory networks. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Richard Roy;Malcolm Whiteway

Student:

Partner:

Institut Pasteur

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University

Program: