Th17 cells and fungal infections

Description of projects available to graduate students:
My laboratory has recent demonstrated that the Th17 cell lineage are critical for host defense against an oral fungal pathogen, Candida albicans (causative agent of "thrush") (Conti et al, J Exp Med 2009). We are now defining the specific IL-17-producing cells involved in host defense against Candidiasis.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
Infection of knockout mice with fungi, harvesting of oral mucosal tissue, culture of yeast (Candida albicans), real-time RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and other techniques as needed.