# Cathelicidin modulates the host response during fungal sepsis.

> **NIH NIH K22** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2022 · $162,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sepsis is the most common cause of hospital-associated death in the world. The fungal pathogen Candida is
the major cause of invasive fungal infections, and leads to sepsis in about 30% of cases, which is associated
with an unacceptably high rate of mortality (60%). Despite the prevalence and severity of fungal sepsis, our
understanding of the host factors that dictate Candida sepsis risk and outcome remain limited. Preliminary data
generated by the candidate, Dr. Alison Coady, demonstrates that loss of the host defense peptide cathelicidin in
mice (CRAMP KO) is unexpectedly beneficial to host survival in a systemic C. albicans infection model of fungal
sepsis. Enhanced survival is associated with a significant increase in the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Despite
the known role of IL-1β in controlling fungal growth in the host, CRAMP KO mice display no changes in fungal
burden during infection compared to wildtype animals. Collectively, the proposed studies seek to 1) delineate
the role of cathelicidin in driving detrimental host responses during fungal sepsis, 2) define the impact of
cathelicidin on IL-1β activity, and 3) determine how diabetes, a risk factor for severe disease in patients,
influences cathelicidin-dependent responses. These studies will increase our fundamental understanding of how
dysregulated immune responses modulate host outcomes during invasive fungal infection and inform the rational
development of therapeutics to treat sepsis and other inflammatory diseases. Dr. Coady’s background in fungal
pathogenesis and immunology, supplemented by the expertise in neutrophil biology and host inflammatory
responses of the Nizet lab, make her uniquely poised to make significant contributions in the fields of fungal
immunology, host-pathogen interactions, and sepsis. A K22 award would support this important research, as
well as generate the preliminary data for future R01 grant applications that further examine the molecular
mechanisms underlying host responses during fungal sepsis and their contributions to patient morbidity and
mortality.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10204312
- **Project number:** 1K22AI159917-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Alison Michele Coady
- **Activity code:** K22 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $162,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-26 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10204312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10204312, Cathelicidin modulates the host response during fungal sepsis. (1K22AI159917-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10204312. Licensed CC0.

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