HISTATIN RECEPTORS AS DRUG TARGETS FOR ORAL CANDIDIASIS

这是Mira埃杰顿博士独立科学家奖（K02）的新申请，它伴随着已经资助的R01DE 12159赠款。埃杰顿医生有糖尿病。学位，修复学专业培训，博士学位。口腔生物学她是布法罗纽约州立大学修复牙科和口腔生物学系的助理教授。埃杰顿博士的研究重点是表征杀念珠菌活性所需的唾液组胺素的结构要素，以及组胺素与白色念珠菌作用的细胞机制。她的工作已经确定了一个C。白色念珠菌膜蛋白（HstBP），其是组胺素杀念珠菌途径的酵母受体蛋白。目前的研究项目是克隆和测序C。白念珠菌HstBP基因，并检测其作为毒力或耐药因子在来自HIV口咽念珠菌病患者的酵母中的表达。埃杰顿博士的近期目标是利用酵母分子遗传学中最新的技术来确定C。白色念珠菌在口腔中的致病性。她的长期目标是确定C.白色念珠菌，以开发更好的治疗局部和系统性念珠菌病的方式。这些目标的实现是可能的，只有通过收购在酵母分子遗传学和最新的系统fir真核遗传学知识的深入背景。埃杰顿博士的科学生涯将通过这一额外的培训和经验。SUNYAB口腔生物学系的研究环境与其他酵母分子遗传学家实验室的经验相结合，对埃杰顿博士的研究事业发展非常有利。然而，她的临床教学职责限制了她获得这些额外研究技能的时间。该伊萨申请是为了获得工资支持，以释放埃杰顿博士从她的临床教学和委员会的责任，以投入她的全职专业工作的80%的研究活动。该奖项将为她提供机会，将她的酵母生物学背景扩展到分子水平，并将这种新的专业知识应用于口腔和系统性念珠菌病的毒力和发病机制的研究。

This is a new application for an Independent Scientist Award (K02) for Dr. Mira Edgerton, and it accompanies the already funded R01DE12159 grant. Dr. Edgerton has a D.D.S. degree, specialty training in prosthodontics, and a Ph.D. in Oral Biology. She is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Restorative Dentistry and Oral Biology at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNYAB). Dr. Edgerton's research has focused on characterizing the structural elements of salivary histatins required for candidacidal activity as well as the cellular mechanism of action of histatins with Candida albicans. Her work has identified a C. albicans membrane protein (HstBP) which is a yeast receptor protein of the histatin candidacidal pathway. The current research project will clone and sequence the C. albicans HstBP gene and examine its expression as a virulence or resistance factor in yeast from HIV-oropharyngeal candidiasis patients. Dr. Edgerton's immediate goals are to use the most current techniques in yeast molecular genetic to identify mechanisms of C. albicans pathogenicity in the oral cavity. Her long range goals are to define the molecular basis of virulence, pathogenesis and drug resistance of C. albicans in order to develop better treatment modalities for local and systemic candidiasis. Achievement of these goals is possible only through acquisition of an in-depth background in yeast molecular genetics and knowledge of the most current systems fir eukaryotic genetics. Dr. Edgerton's scientific career would be advanced through this additional training and experience. The research environment in the Department of Oral Biology at SUNYAB in combination with experiences in the laboratories of other yeast molecular geneticists is excellent for development of the research career of Dr. Edgerton. However, her clinical teaching duties limit the time available to her for acquiring these additional research skills. This ISA application is to obtain salary support to release Dr. Edgerton from her clinical teaching and committee responsibilities in order to devote 80% of her full time professional effort to research activities. This award would provide her the opportunity to extend her background in yeast biology to the molecular level and apply this new expertise to studies of virulence and pathogenesis of oral and systemic candidiasis.