This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences project grant, awarded to Rhodes College for $502,946.00 on June 15, 2024, aims to understand how dimorphic fungi (fungi that switch between filamentous and yeast forms) sense and respond to shifts in environmental carbon dioxide levels.
The project will genetically and biochemically characterize the carbonic anhydrases of the model dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying carbon dioxide sensing and response. Techniques will include genetic screens, DNA pull-down assays, and RNA-seq transcriptional profiling. The goal is to uncover novel cellular components involved in carbon dioxide sensing, which could aid in developing new antifungal drugs and agricultural fungicides. Undergraduate students from Rhodes College and LeMoyne-Owen College will participate in the research as part of a course-based research experience.
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