Whitney Rabacal, PhD

Aspergillus is a common fungus that poses a significant threat to lung health. In its most aggressive form it causes a rapidly progressing pneumonia-like disease known as invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) that is often fatal. IPA threatens individuals with weakened immune systems, pre-existing lung disease, and severe viral pneumonias including influenza and COVID-19. Current treatment options rely heavily on a limited number of antibiotics that are often hindered by drug interactions, adverse reactions and fungal resistance. Even with intensive care, treatment success remains low. Based on a novel Aspergillus vaccine candidate, we will develop therapeutic antibodies to treat IPA in a model system and explore the mechanisms by which these antibodies protect against disease. This work will discover new therapies that can work in concert with pre-existing drug regiments to protect against IPA and other Aspergillus-associated lung diseases.

Update:
We are currently in the process of generating anti-Aspergillus monoclonal antibodies for further evaluation in model systems of IPA. Completion of these studies will address critical questions regarding Aspergillus-protective epitopes (specific targets against which individual antibodies bind) and the way in which antibody‐mediated responses contribute to anti-Aspergillus immunity as a whole. In addition, this work will advance the development of immune-based therapeutic options to improve the standard of care in high-risk populations susceptible to IPA and other Aspergillus-associated lung diseases.