# Cryptococcus, an Urban Fungus: Early-life Exposure and Allergic Sensitization in Puerto Ricans

> **NIH NIH R03** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $73,375

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Cryptococcus spp. represent an understudied genus of fungi that appears to have
relevance to allergy and asthma. This genus has previously been understudied due to
difficulties in culturing, and early-life environmental exposures are not well
characterized. We propose to use high-throughput DNA sequencing to comprehensively
measure exposure after birth to this fungal group. This genus is commonly found in
urban environments. We will utilize house dust samples from 131 participants from an
existing urban, Hispanic birth cohort at high risk of developing allergic sensitization due
to heredity. The goal of this new study is to further our understanding underlying the
observations of inverse associations between fungal diversity and allergic sensitization.
We hypothesize that 1) beneficial housing characteristics are associated with increased
Cryptococcus diversity and 2) exposure to decreased diversity within the fungal genus
Cryptococcus in early-life predict allergic sensitization development among pre-school
children. Aim 1 is to identify home characteristics associated with Cryptococcus
exposure and temporal persistence. Aim 2 is to determine associations between
exposure to Cryptococcus spp. in early-life and allergic sensitization at age 4 years.
Results will represent a new paradigm for determining potentially beneficial early-life
microbial exposures. Our interdisciplinary project is poised to then integrate findings into
standard medical care, housing interventions and asthma programs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9860925
- **Project number:** 5R03ES029301-02
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Dannemiller
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $73,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9860925

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9860925, Cryptococcus, an Urban Fungus: Early-life Exposure and Allergic Sensitization in Puerto Ricans (5R03ES029301-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9860925. Licensed CC0.

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