Carol Kumamoto

Research/Areas of Interest

Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, causes diseases ranging from mild, superficial infection to life-threatening disseminated disease. Immunocompromised patients such as cancer patients and transplant recipients are at risk for disseminated candidiasis, a disease that is difficult to diagnose and is associated with high mortality. Growth of C. albicans in filamentous forms is associated with tissue invasion and is important for pathogenicity. Our research is directed towards understanding the environmental cues that stimulate filamentous growth and the genes involved in filamentous and invasive growth. We also investigate host-Candida interactions during intestinal colonization.