Anna Loksztejn

I am a Research Scientist in the Lodge lab (MGM), passionate about molecular mycology, protein chemistry, biomedical and translational research as well as in vitro and in vivo assay development. My long-term goal is to further my career towards research faculty studying biosynthesis, remodeling and function of the fungal cell wall, with the emphasis on the role of cell wall biochemistry in the fungal drug resistance. Project, that I am most recently involved in, aims to elucidate the mechanism behind the inherit resistance of Cryptococcus neoformans to echinocandins which are targeting the cell wall biosynthetic pathways. Taken that new agents to treat Cryptococcus are needed, and cell wall is an attractive target because it is unique to fungi and absent in humans, it becomes crucial to look for origins of the cryptococcal resistance to existing drugs. My previous training provides me with a very broad scientific perspective and unique set of research skills that are now enabling my contribution to improvement of existing therapeutic strategies for life threatening fungal infections.