Lab updates
If you are interested in joining our lab group, we are considering graduate student for enrollment in FALL 2022
CRISPR technologyThe Barker group is now funded by two U19 grants from NIH/NIAID. The work supports several institutions, including NAU, UCSF, UC-Berkeley and UC-Davis. For more information see NIH reporter: U19 UCSF U19 NAU Core U19 NAU Project 1 |
Soil Ecology A recently funded SHERC grant win collaboration with Dr. Anita Antotinka is allowing us to use molecular techniques to detect Coccidioides in soil, and determine effects of desert biocrust on Cocci spore prevalence. An ABOR funded grant with our sister Arizona institutions ASU and UA will allow us to monitor Cocci in soil over a 3 year period, including data from soil, air and patients! |
morphological switchingThe ability of Coccidioides to change morphology in response to environmental changes has implications for infection and sexual recombination. A recent NIH/NIAID R21 grant supported this work. We have discovered the sexual cycle for the organism and are in process of completing work for publication |
The Barker Lab is interested in all aspects of Coccidioides biology. We study fungal pathogenesis, genomics and ecology. We are striving to improve our knowledge of the ecological niche of Coccidioides in soil by developing new technologies for detection, and improving our ability to predict the presence of Coccidioides in soil. A method to detect Coccidioides in soil would be both an economic development opportunity, and public health benefit to Arizona citizens. Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is caused by two fungal species within the Coccidioides genus. These are normally soil dwelling dimorphic fungi that are endemic to the Americas. The most common route of infection is inhaling airborne fungal arthroconidia that are present in the environment. Being exposed to environmental Coccidioides arthroconidia often leads to an asymptomatic infection. In many cases pulmonary coccidioidomycosis can lead to the development of asymptomatic benign nodules. It has been estimated that at least 30% of lung nodules biopsied in the endemic region are caused by coccidioidomycosis. When pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is symptomatic in a host, the clinical presentation mimics pneumonia or other flu-like illness. Even in endemic regions, it is estimated that misdiagnosis of coccidioidomycosis as viral or bacterial pneumonia occurs in 30% of patients. If the acute infection does not resolve, it can progress to chronic and/or disseminated disease, and the specific factors influencing this outcome are unknown.
OUR GOALWhen infected by Coccidioides, some people have severe disease, whereas others won't even know they were exposed- Why? |
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Students
Students interested in graduate studies see NAU grad college and contact Dr Barker for more information. Undergraduate students please apply through the PMI website, and specify interest in Coccidioides research.
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INFO for Citizen Scientists
We are collecting data from owners of dogs living in the endemic regions
Please go to https://www.tgen.org/research-forms/canine/valley-fever-paws/ |
Publications
For a full list of pubs- see my google scholar page
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