Assistant Professor of Microbiology

Research Interests of Wormley Laboratory

My research interests involve using the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans as a model organism to study host-fungal interactions for the purpose of developing novel immune therapies and/or vaccines to treat or prevent invasive fungal infections. C. neoformans, the causative agent of cryptococcosis, is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that has the propensity to cause respiratory tract infections in severely immune compromised individuals and possesses a unique predilection to invade the central nervous system causing life-threatening meningoencephalitis. The primary focus of my research is in two main areas:

To define protective host immune responses against C. neoformans infections.

To evaluate the putative use of genetically modified C. neoformans strains as immune therapies or vaccine candidates for the treatment or protection against pulmonary C. neoformans infections.

To identify targets for anti-fungal drug development

Our laboratory uses a variety of immunological and molecular biology techniques together with animal model systems to accomplish our research goals. The ultimate hope is that these studies will lead to a greater understanding of host-fungal interactions and the development of protective immune based therapies against invasive fungal infections.

Since many of the high–consequence biological threats have the capacity to enter our bodies via the respiratory route, our research can serve a direct role in devising means of detection and treatment of these biological agents. We, therefore, welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the investigators of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in the training of their staff in the various research techniques that are commonplace in our laboratory. In addition, we welcome any opportunity to devise and participate in research projects that aids in helping the NBAF meet its mission goals to protect the nation’s food supply and associated public health.

Assistant Professor - Mycology

Department of Biology

South Texas Center for Emerging

Infectious Diseases

University of Texas at San Antonio

One UTSA Circle

San Antonio, TX 28249-0062

Office Phone: (210) 458-7020

Lab Phone/FAX: (210) 458-7021

Email: floyd.wormley@utsa.edu