Candidiasis is an invasive and potentially life-threatening health condition that can be triggered by Candida Albicans infection in immunocompromised individuals. The significant increase in incidence of Candidiasis of recent years and currently ineffective drug treatments have motivated research into the genetics underlying Candida infection and host immune responses. To identify gene mutations that may confer resistance to C. albicans, we utilized the nematode C. elegans as a host model due to its ease of use in lab and its susceptibility to Candida infection. Our resistance screens isolated 2 putative mutants that displayed consistently healthy phenotype, movement, and production of offspring when exposed to the yeast over a period of several days.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sanchez, Sabrina Elsie
• FathiBitaraf, Ainaz
• Degnall, Elizabeth Y.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042512-012652

Advisor

• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Politz, Samuel M.

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright