Valeria Culotta

Research Overview

Research in the Culotta lab focuses on the role of metal ions and oxygen radicals in biology and disease. Metal ions such as copper, iron and manganese are essential micronutrients for both microbial pathogens and their animal hosts, and during infection, a tug of war for these nutrients ensues at the host-pathogen interface. As part of our immune response, we withhold essential metals from pathogens and also bombard them with free radicals or so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Successful pathogens have evolved clever ways to thwart these assaults by the host. Using a combination of biochemical, cell biology, and molecular genetic approaches we are exploring how microbes and their animal hosts use weapons of metals and ROS at the infection battleground. Our current emphasis is on pathogenic fungi including the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, and the emerging “superbug” fungal pathogen, Candida auris.

Additional Titles

Director of Postdoctoral Training, School of Public Health

Associate Vice Provost for Postdoctoral Affairs, Johns Hopkins University