Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a Project Grant of $412,324 on June 25, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to investigate echinocandin cross-resistance and hetero-resistance in fungal infections. The research focuses on determining whether echinocandin susceptibility can be restored to drug-resistant Candida glabrata mutants by targeting alternative gene products through genome-wide transposon sequencing (TN-seq) screens. The project will identify candidate genes and evaluate existing inhibitors that may mitigate cross-resistance to echinocandins, with particular emphasis on understanding the mutual antagonism mechanism between FKS gene products and addressing super-cross-resistance phenomena observed in clinical isolates and laboratory strains.

The research extends through May 31, 2028, and will produce scientific deliverables including TN-seq screening data, mechanistic insights into FKS mutual antagonism, and potential therapeutic targets that could improve clinical outcomes for life-threatening fungal infections such as candidemia and invasive candidiasis. Work will be performed at Johns Hopkins University's Baltimore, Maryland location, leveraging the institution's expertise in molecular microbiology and infectious disease research to address a significant clinical challenge where current mortality rates from echinocandin-resistant infections remain between 20 and 40 percent.