Summary
- Major: Microbiology & Immunology
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amanda Burnham-Marusich
- Research Topic: Designing a Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA) to Detect Invasive Fungal Pathogens
- New Scholar: 2023 Cohort
- Graduating with a Baccalaureate Degree: 2025
Abstract
The development of new immunosuppressive drugs has left a steadily increasing proportion of the population vulnerable to opportunistic fungal pathogens. Unfortunately, as of now there is no single assay that can reliably detect early stages of infection and differentiate between species of fungi. Current diagnostic methods used in healthcare are invasive and require a level of expertise absent from most areas. LFIAs stand out as a highly effective analytical technique for detecting low-concentration targets during early infection stages. We hypothesize that the mannans shed by fungal pathogens during infection are ideal targets for the development of a sensitive and specific LFIA. This project can address the urgent need in healthcare for a rapid, cost-effective analytical solution.