Personal Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- c.a.munro@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437485
- Office Address
Rm 4:19 Institute of Medical Sciences Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Qualifications
- PhD The Molecular Analysis of Chitin Synthesis in Candida albicans1997 - University of Aberdeen
- BSc Biochemistry1993 - University of AberdeenFirst Class Hons
External Memberships
Deputy Editor-In-Chief of FEMS Yeast Research.
FEMS delegate for the Microbiology Society
Microbiology Society Impact & Influence Committee
Honorary member of British Society for Medical Mycology
- Research
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Research Overview
I am leader of the Microbiology & Immunity Research Theme (Microbiology and Immunity) that is comprised of over 20 principal investigators split into 3 sections: Immunology; Immunotherapeutics; Microbial Pathogenesis reflecting our research interests.
I am co-founder and CSO of Brigid Biologics (Brigid Bio), designing and developing a new class of antifungal therapeutics against drug resistant fungal pathogens of global healthcare concern.
My research is focussed on investigating fungi that cause life-threatening and multi-drug resistant infections in humans with impaired immune function. I investigate the role of the fungal cell wall in interactions with the host and have built up expertise in cell wall biochemistry, proteomics and microscopy approaches to gain a deeper understanding of how the cell wall is built and maintained. My work has focused mainly on Candida albicans but I have also worked with a wider range of pathogens including several other Candida species, including Candida glabrata and Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus, Malassezia sympodialis, Exophilia, Fusarium, Trichophyton, Rhizopus and Sporothrix species.
The cell wall is an excellent target for new therapies containing many fungal-specific components that are not found in the human host. I am motivated to develop novel therapeutics that target the cell wall and in collaboration with Scottish Biologics Facility have developed fungal cell wall targeting antibodies that are protective in fungal infection models. We have recently filed a patent to protect IP of these reagents.
I also study antifungal drug resistance and tolerance and discovered that in response to treatment with the echinocandin class of antifungals, fungi can re-programme their cell walls, upregulating chitin production and reducing drug susceptibility. Alterations in cell wall composition, both polysaccharide and protein abundances can influence host interactions, which we study using live cell imaging of fungal:macrophage interactions. I am also interested in analysing genetic variability amongst clinical fungal isolates in order to understand how genetic variability impacts on cell surface variability and hence interactions with the host and other virulence properties, including host niche-specific fitness. Over the last 4 years my group have developed and utilized novel infection models, for example a skin ex-plant model, a catheterized lab-grown skin model for biofilm -associated infections, a gut epithelium model and tissue organoids. These models allow us to mimic the host environment to study fungal:host interactions and fungal pathogenicity. My group have also constructed genomic platforms to study functional genomics of Candida albicans, providing the wider community with powerful molecur tools to study fungal pathogenesis. At the end of 2020 I opened a Biological Containment Level 3 viral laboratory to work with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in response to the ongoing pandemic and have set up assays to measure anti-viral activity of compounds and treatments.
Research Areas
Biomedical Sciences
Current Research
I am a partner in the EU-funded HDM-Fun Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 2020-2024 Host directed medicine in invasive fungal infection. https://hdm-fun.eu/
I am a partner in the EU -funded Innovative Training Network FunHoMic (Deciphering the fungus-host-microbiota interplay to improve the management of fungal infections). ESR Ann Kristin Kaune with Dr Alan Walker and ESR Nate Cole https://www.funhomic.eu/en
Modelling Candida albicans infection of the human gut using human intestinal organoid cultures. NC3Rs Phd student Ed Devlin 2019-2022. Co-PI with Dr Silvia Gratz and Dr Donna MacCallum
Can echinocandin-induced tolerance mechanisms promote persistent, drug recalcitrant infections? Gilead Investigator Led Study 2020-2021 PI with Dr Louise Walker
Development of fungal surface targeting antibodies. PhD student Mark Mawer (funded by University of ABerdeen) and Tyng Tan (funded by the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter) with Dr Soumya Palliyil and Professor Andy Porter (Scottish Biologics Facility)
Drug induced tolerance mechanisms: a driver for fungal persistence? PhD student Mark Peacock (funded by the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter) with Professor Neil Gow and Dr Alessandra da Silva Dantas
Past Research
I was a partner in the EU -funded Innovative Training Network OPATHY (From Omics to Patient: Improving Diagnostics of Pathogenic Yeasts) http://www.opathy.eu/ Within this network we developed antifungal drug resistance biomarkers using a proteomics approach.
Collaborations
Dr Neil McCarthy, QMUL - Candida albicans:gut interactions
Dr Christophe D'Enfert Pasteur Institute, France, - C. albicans ORFeome and over-expression library.
Dr Campbell Gourlay, University of Kent - Investigating the role of mitochondrial electron transport chain function in fungal pathogenicity and drug resistance.
Dr Donna MaCallum, University of Aberdeen - Human skin models to study fungal infections.
Dr Silvia Gratz & Donna MacCallum, University of Aberdeen - Gut epithelium and organoid models to study fungal invasion
Dr Soumya Palliyl, Professor Andy Porter, Scottish Biologics Facility - Developing fungal cell surface targeting antibodies.
Dr Annika Scheynius, Karolinska Institute - Malassezia sympodialis interactions with the host.
Funding and Grants
EU FunHoMic Innovative Training Network 2019-2023 “Deciphering the fungus-host-microbiota interplay to improve the management of fungal infections” PI with Dr Alan Walker and Prof Al Brown.
NC3Rs Phd studentship 2019-2022. Modelling Candida albicans infection of the human gut using human intestinal organoid cultures. Co-PI with Dr Silvia Gratz and Dr Donna MacCallum
Gilead Investigator Led Study 2020-2021 Can echinocandin-induced tolerance mechanisms promote persistent, drug recalcitrant infections? PI with Dr Louise Walker
Leverhulme Trust/Royal Society Senior Research Fellowship 2019-2020 Unbiased functional genomics screens for the molecular dissection of Candida albicans pathobiology and cellular morphology.
SULSA Antimicrobial Resistance Seed Funding 2018-2019 Antifungal potential of compounds produced by thermophilic Actinobacteria from compost, upon strains of azole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. Co-Pi with Dr Gillian Halket, University of Strathclyde.
Wellcome Trust Strategic Award International PhD Scholarship 2014-2018 Investigating the role of mitochondrial electron transport chain function in fungal pathogenicity and drug resistance. Co-PI with Dr Campbell Gourlay, University of Kent.
MRC Case studentship with NovaBiotics Ltd 2013-2017 Novel combination strategies to combat complex respiratory polymicrobial infections associated with cystic fibrosis.
Wellcome Trust Strategic Award Cross-disciplinary PDRA Project Award 2013-2017 Evaluating clinical outcomes to Candida albicans biofilm formation in candidaemia patients. Co-PI with Prof Ramage, University of Glasgow.
EU OPATHY Innovative Training Network 2015-2019 fungal diagnostics.
Wellcome Trust ISSF award 2016-2017 barcode sequencing.
MRC Confidence in Concepts grant 2015-2017 Development of novel biologics-based antifungal therapeutics and diagnostics targeted towards Candida albicans cell surface glycoproteins.
SULSA MSD Postdoctoral grant with Dundee Drug Disovery Unit 2013-2015. Developing chitin synthase inhibitors.
BBSRC Case studentship with NovaBiotics, Prof. Ruth Ross, Prof Tony Ormerod. 2011-2015 Development of a bacterial-skin infection model to optimise the treatment and improve our understanding of persistent infections.
SULSA BioSkape industrial studentship with NovaBiotics Ltd 2010-2014
Antifungal peptide drugs. Knowledge Transfer Partnership with NovaBiotics Ltd 2010-2012
The Candida albicans ORFeome project .Wellcome Trust Biomedical Resources grant 2009-2013 (Lead PI with Dr d'Enfert, Institut Pasteur)
Gilead Sciences sponsored industrial studentships 2006-2010, 2009-2012 (with Professor Gow)
Regulation of the biosynthesis of the cell wall skeleton of Candida albicans. Wellcome Trust project grant 2009-2012 (Co-PI with Professor Gow and Odds)
Antifungal drug screening programme. University of Aberdeen Commercialisation Award 2010
The role of fungal cell wall composition and remodelling in echinocandin drug tolerance and resistance. British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy research grant 2010
- Teaching
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- Publications
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Page 3 of 5 Results 51 to 75 of 106
Targeted changes of the cell wall proteome influence Candida albicans ability to form single- and multi-strain biofilms
PLoS Pathogens, vol. 10, no. 12, e1004542Contributions to Journals: ArticlesExtracellular DNA release confers heterogeneity in Candida albicans biofilm formation
BioMed Central Microbiology, vol. 14, 303Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-014-0303-6
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4776/1/s12866_014_0303_6.pdf
Candida albicans Hypha Formation and Mannan Masking of β-Glucan Inhibit Macrophage Phagosome Maturation
mBio, vol. 5, no. 6, e01874-14Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01874-14
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4124/1/e01874_14.full.pdf
The pH-responsive PacC transcription factor of Aspergillus fumigatus governs epithelial entry and tissue invasion during pulmonary aspergillosis
PLoS Pathogens, vol. 10, no. 10, e1004413Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004413
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4775/1/journal.ppat.1004413.pdf
Modulation of Alternaria infectoria cell wall chitin and glucan synthesis by cell wall synthase inhibitors
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 58, no. 5, pp. 2894-2904Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.02647-13
O-mannosylation in Candida albicans enables development of interkingdom biofilm communities
mBio, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. e00911-e009114Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00911-14
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4774/1/mBio_2014_Dutton_.pdf
Carbon metabolism in pathogenic yeasts (Especially Candida): The role of cell wall metabolism in virulence
Molecular Mechanisms in Yeast Carbon Metabolism. Piskur, J., Compagno, C. (eds.). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 141-167, 27 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersCell wall stress induces alternative fungal cytokinesis and septation strategies
Journal of Cell Science, vol. 126, no. 12, pp. 2668-2677Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.118885
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/5809/1/2668.full.pdf
Determination of chitin content in fungal cell wall: an alternative flow cytometric method
Cytometry Part A : Journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology, vol. 83A, no. 3, pp. 324-328Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.22250
Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis
mBio, vol. 4, no. 1, e00572-12Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00572-12
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/5810/1/mBio_2013_Gioti_.pdf
Elevated Chitin Content Reduces the Susceptibility of Candida Species to Caspofungin
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 146-154Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAnti-Candida targets and cytotoxicity of casuarinin isolated from Plinia cauliflora leaves in a bioactivity-guided study
Molecules, vol. 18, no. 7, pp. 8095-8108Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules18078095
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/5898/1/molecules_18_08095.pdf
Chitin and glucan, the yin and yang of the fungal cell wall, implications for antifungal drug discovery and therapy
Advances in Applied Microbiology, vol. 83, pp. 145-172Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407678-5.00004-0
Differential adaptation of Candida albicans in vivo modulates immune recognition by dectin-1
PLoS Pathogens, vol. 9, no. 4, e1003315Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHsp90 orchestrates transcriptional regulation by Hsf1 and cell wall remodelling by MAPK signalling during thermal adaptation in a pathogenic yeast
PLoS Pathogens, vol. 8, no. 12, e1003069Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003069
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2829/1/Leach_Plos_2012.pdf
The evolutionary rewiring of ubiquitination targets has reprogrammed the regulation of carbon assimilation in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans
mBio, vol. 3, no. 6, e00495-12Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] http://mbio.asm.org/content/3/6/e00495-12
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.02489-14
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2828/1/Sandai_2012.pdf
Carbon source-induced reprogramming of the cell wall proteome and secretome modulates the adherence and drug resistance of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans
Proteomics, vol. 12, no. 21, pp. 3164-3179Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201200228
Echinocandin resistance due to simultaneous FKS mutation and increased cell wall chitin in a Candida albicans bloodstream isolate following brief exposure to caspofungin
Journal of Medical Microbiology, vol. 61, no. 9, pp. 1330-1334Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.045047-0
Isolation and functional characterization of Sporothrix schenckii ROT2, the encoding gene for the endoplasmic reticulum glucosidase II
Fungal Biology, vol. 116, no. 8, pp. 910-918Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2012.06.002
Modular gene over-expression strategies for Candida albicans
Host-Fungus Interactions: Methods and Protocols. Brand, A., MacCallum, D. (eds.). Humana Press, pp. 227-244, 18 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-539-8_15
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Elevated Cell Wall Chitin in Candida albicans Confers Echinocandin Resistance In Vivo
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 208-217Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCool Tools 5: The Candida albicans ORFeome Project
Candida and Candidiasis. Calderone, R. A., Clancy, C. J. (eds.). 2 edition. ASM PressChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersThe Cell Wall: Glycoproteins, Remodeling, and Regulation
Candida and Candidiasis. Calderone, R. A., Clancy, C. J. (eds.). 2 edition. ASM PressChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersRecognition and blocking of innate immunity cells by Candida albicans chitin
Infection and Immunity, vol. 79, no. 5, pp. 1961-1970Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01282-10
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4833/1/2011_I_I_Mora_Montes_chitin.pdf
Fungal echinocandin resistance
F1000 Biology Reports, vol. 2, 66Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3410/B2-66