Research
Dr. Shakti Singh’s laboratory focuses on understanding the pathogenesis, host interactions, and immune responses associated with Candidozyma auris (Candida auris), a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen responsible for healthcare-associated outbreaks worldwide. His laboratory integrates molecular microbiology, immunology, and translational research to identify mechanisms that drive fungal colonization, persistence, and invasive disease.
A major area of investigation focuses on fungal adhesins and other cell-surface proteins that mediate host colonization, biofilm formation, and virulence. Using molecular genetic approaches and experimental infection models, the laboratory seeks to define how these factors contribute to disease progression and to evaluate their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention and vaccine development.
The laboratory also studies C. auris-host interactions and immune responses that influence infection outcomes. By examining how fungal pathogens adapt to host environments and how the immune system recognizes and responds to infection, Dr. Singh’s group aims to identify novel fungal and host determinants that can be leveraged to enhance antifungal immunity.
A translational focus of the research program is developing innovative strategies to prevent and treat drug-resistant fungal infections. Current efforts include discovering protective fungal antigens for vaccine development, developing antibody-based immunotherapies, and designing antimicrobial peptide therapeutics active against fungal biofilms and invasive infections. These studies seek to address the growing global threat of antifungal resistance and improve treatment options for vulnerable patient populations.
To support these objectives, the laboratory develops and employs advanced animal models of fungal disease to investigate host-pathogen interactions, immune mechanisms, fungal dissemination, and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Together, these studies provide a foundation for translating fundamental discoveries into new approaches to preventing and treating life-threatening fungal infections.
Biography
Dr. Shakti Singh obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Surgery/Immunology in 2015 from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. His first postdoctoral research at the National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NIH) focused on HIV immunology and vaccine development, followed by additional postdoctoral research on fungal pathogenesis and vaccine/immunotherapeutic development at The Lundquist Institute. In 2022, Dr. Singh was appointed as Investigator and Assistant Professor-in-Residence, and started his own laboratory. Dr. Singh has received grants from the American Heart Association, the UCLA CTSI KL2 award, and the NIH for ongoing research in his laboratory.