The frequency of life-threatening invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has increased dramatically in the past decade. Globally, over 7 million people suffer from IFIs each year, with over 3 million deaths annually. Contributing to the increase in IFIs is the increase in populations at high risk. These include individuals with weakened immune systems due to organ transplant anti-rejection treatments, cancer patients, individuals undergoing treatment for inflammatory diseases, individuals of advanced age, pre-mature infants, and congenital or acquired immunosuppressive diseases. Other at-risk populations include those with pre-existing medical conditions such as lung diseases, diabetes, severe wounds, or co-infections (influenza, COVID-19, HIV, tuberculosis). Environmental conditions including increased global temperature, natural disasters, and agricultural and construction work have expanded the exposure of healthy individuals to IFIs.

With ~15 laboratories studying the broad world of fungi, the University of Georgia is a well-known international center for advancing our understanding of fungal biology. In the Center for Vaccines & Immunology, work is focused on understanding host responses to pathogenic fungi, including Aspergillus, Candida, Pneumocystis, Cryptococcus, and Mucor species. Research by scientists in the CVI is advancing the development of broadly reactive anti-fungal vaccines and Immunotherapeutics for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening fungal infections.

Participating Faculty and Labs

Xiaorong Lin, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Gene E. Michaels Distinguished Professor in Medical Mycology

Fungal adaptation to the host | Development of mRNA vaccines against fungal diseases | Development of targeted anti-fungal drug therapy

Karen Norris, PhD, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Charles H. Wheatley Endowed Chair in Translational Biomedical Science

Host responses to invasive fungal infections | Development of broadly reactive pan-fungal vaccine | Development of anti-fungal monoclonal antibody therapeutics

Whitney Rabacal,  PhD, Research Assistant Professor

Broadly reactive pan-fungal vaccines | Anti-fungal monoclonal antibody therapeutics | Development of animal models of invasive fungal diseases