In a new study designed to better understand and combat biofilm, a sticky, armor-like goo, that encases clusters of disease-causing organisms, David Andes, MD, professor, Infectious Disease, and his collaborators identified some of the key proteins in biofilms of the fungus Candida albicans that control both how they resist antifungal drugs and how they become dispersed throughout the body.

While more work is necessary, the newly identified proteins provide potential drug targets to impair a pathogen’s antimicrobial defenses.

Dr. Andes and his team, which included University of Georgia professor of biology Aaron Mitchell, published their findings on October 29 in the journal, Nature Communications.

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