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The Naglik Lab employs molecular, cellular, immunological, biophysical and structural biology to investigate host-fungal interactions. The mission is to identify fungal and host factors associated with the disease process and protective immune responses.  

Naglik Lab

People

James  Griffiths

Research Fellow

Lea Lortal

Research Associate

Julian Naglik

Professor in Fungal Pathogenesis & Immunology

Emily Priest

PhD student

Jonathan  Richardson

Lecturer in Host Fungal Interactions

Projects

Candida pathogenicity - candidalysin
Candida pathogenicity - candidalysin

Deaths per annum from fungal infections are greater than the global mortality due to malaria or breast cancer and are similar to deaths due to tuberculosis. Despite this, the mechanisms that promote fungal disease are largely unknown. The Naglik Lab recently identified the candidalysins, a family of peptide toxins produced by pathogenic Candida spp. (the causative agents of thrush). This discovery has significantly advanced the understanding of fungal pathogenesis, as human pathogenic fungi were not known to possess such toxins. The candidalysins are critical for the ability of these fungi to cause tissue damage and this project aims to determine the mechanisms by which the candidalysins promote fungal disease.

Candida immunity
Candida immunity

Candida pathogens activate epithelial cells that drive the induction of protective innate immune responses. Epithelial activation occurs via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. This leads to the activation of AP-1 transcription factors, cytokine production, and the subsequent recruitment of innate immune cells. This project aims to determine the importance of EGFR and MAPK signalling pathways in the protection against Candida infections.

Publications

    Awards

    Major Research Grants currently held (chronological order)

    2019-2024       Wellcome Trust Investigator Award (214229_Z_18_Z_). Fungal peptide toxins in pathogenicity and immunity. Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI). Amount to PI: £2,076,915.

    2017-2022       National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA). R01 MERIT Award (R37-DE022550). Host and Fungal Regulation of Type 17 Immunity to Oral Candidiasis. Applicants: Sarah Gaffen (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI).  Amount to Co-PI: $756,888.

    2017-2022       National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre award to King’s College London (IS-BRC-1215-20006). Total: £5,773,526. Co-PI with 50 applicants. Programme: Oral Fungal Infections. Amount to PI: ~£500,000. April 1st 2017 – March 31st 2022.

    2016-2020       Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Project grant. BB/N014677/1. Candidalysins: Mechanistic function of a novel family of fungal peptide toxins. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-Investigator) and Bernhard Hube (Project Partner).  Amount to PI: £486,768. July 2016 – June 2020.

    2015-2019       EU H2020. Project grant: 643558. EMI-TB (Eliciting mucosal immunity in tuberculosis). Juraj Ivanji (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI), Giovanna Lombardi (Co-PI). Amount to Participant/KCL: €363,586 (£287,233). Mar 2015 – Feb 2019.

     

    King's College London Institutional Grants currently held (chronological order)

    2017-2019       KHP Development Challenge Fund (R170501). Diagnostic and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and aptamers against Candidalysin toxin. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Selvam Thavaraj (Co-PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-PI), Jemima Ho (Co-PI). £78,100.

    2017-2019       KCL Dental Institute Seed funding. Identification of cytolytic peptide toxins in human pathogenic fungi. Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-PI), Oliver Bader (Co-PI) and Toni Gabaldon (Co-PI). Amount to PI: £49,732

     

    Equipment Grants currently held (chronological order)

    2015-2020       Wellcome Trust Equipment  grant: 108461/Z/15/Z. 3D Volume Serial Block Face Imaging Facility. Roland Fleck (PI), Julian Naglik (Multi-User Equipment grant; Co-applicant with seven other PIs). Amount to KCL: £602,744. Aug 2015 – Aug 2020. Equipment access only.

     

    PhD Studentship Grants currently held (chronological order)

    2017-2021       Crick-KCL PhD studentship. Protein Kinase C pathway activation by a newly-discovered fungal toxin. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Peter Parker (Co-PI). £18,000.

    2016-2020       KCL Dental Institute PhD studentship. Characterisation of EGFR signalling induced by a novel fungal cytolytic peptide toxin.  Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI). £15,000.

     

    Consumable Grants Currently held (chronological order)

    2017-2019       Rosetrees Trust (M680). Critical role for purinergic receptors in Candida albicans infection.  Applicants: Jemima Ho (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI). £20,000

    Activities

    Nessim Kichik
    ETOX2019

    Postdoctoral scientist Nessim Kichik from The Naglik Lab updates ETOX2019 on the activities and structure of candidalysin in his poster.

      News

      Julian Naglik among 65 Fellows elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

      The American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) has elected Professor Julian Naglik and 64 peers to the Class of 2024.

      julian-naglik-news

      People

      James  Griffiths

      Research Fellow

      Lea Lortal

      Research Associate

      Julian Naglik

      Professor in Fungal Pathogenesis & Immunology

      Emily Priest

      PhD student

      Jonathan  Richardson

      Lecturer in Host Fungal Interactions

      Projects

      Candida pathogenicity - candidalysin
      Candida pathogenicity - candidalysin

      Deaths per annum from fungal infections are greater than the global mortality due to malaria or breast cancer and are similar to deaths due to tuberculosis. Despite this, the mechanisms that promote fungal disease are largely unknown. The Naglik Lab recently identified the candidalysins, a family of peptide toxins produced by pathogenic Candida spp. (the causative agents of thrush). This discovery has significantly advanced the understanding of fungal pathogenesis, as human pathogenic fungi were not known to possess such toxins. The candidalysins are critical for the ability of these fungi to cause tissue damage and this project aims to determine the mechanisms by which the candidalysins promote fungal disease.

      Candida immunity
      Candida immunity

      Candida pathogens activate epithelial cells that drive the induction of protective innate immune responses. Epithelial activation occurs via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. This leads to the activation of AP-1 transcription factors, cytokine production, and the subsequent recruitment of innate immune cells. This project aims to determine the importance of EGFR and MAPK signalling pathways in the protection against Candida infections.

      Publications

        Awards

        Major Research Grants currently held (chronological order)

        2019-2024       Wellcome Trust Investigator Award (214229_Z_18_Z_). Fungal peptide toxins in pathogenicity and immunity. Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI). Amount to PI: £2,076,915.

        2017-2022       National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA). R01 MERIT Award (R37-DE022550). Host and Fungal Regulation of Type 17 Immunity to Oral Candidiasis. Applicants: Sarah Gaffen (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI).  Amount to Co-PI: $756,888.

        2017-2022       National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre award to King’s College London (IS-BRC-1215-20006). Total: £5,773,526. Co-PI with 50 applicants. Programme: Oral Fungal Infections. Amount to PI: ~£500,000. April 1st 2017 – March 31st 2022.

        2016-2020       Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Project grant. BB/N014677/1. Candidalysins: Mechanistic function of a novel family of fungal peptide toxins. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-Investigator) and Bernhard Hube (Project Partner).  Amount to PI: £486,768. July 2016 – June 2020.

        2015-2019       EU H2020. Project grant: 643558. EMI-TB (Eliciting mucosal immunity in tuberculosis). Juraj Ivanji (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI), Giovanna Lombardi (Co-PI). Amount to Participant/KCL: €363,586 (£287,233). Mar 2015 – Feb 2019.

         

        King's College London Institutional Grants currently held (chronological order)

        2017-2019       KHP Development Challenge Fund (R170501). Diagnostic and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and aptamers against Candidalysin toxin. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Selvam Thavaraj (Co-PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-PI), Jemima Ho (Co-PI). £78,100.

        2017-2019       KCL Dental Institute Seed funding. Identification of cytolytic peptide toxins in human pathogenic fungi. Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI), Jonathan Richardson (Co-PI), Oliver Bader (Co-PI) and Toni Gabaldon (Co-PI). Amount to PI: £49,732

         

        Equipment Grants currently held (chronological order)

        2015-2020       Wellcome Trust Equipment  grant: 108461/Z/15/Z. 3D Volume Serial Block Face Imaging Facility. Roland Fleck (PI), Julian Naglik (Multi-User Equipment grant; Co-applicant with seven other PIs). Amount to KCL: £602,744. Aug 2015 – Aug 2020. Equipment access only.

         

        PhD Studentship Grants currently held (chronological order)

        2017-2021       Crick-KCL PhD studentship. Protein Kinase C pathway activation by a newly-discovered fungal toxin. Applicants: Julian Naglik (PI), Peter Parker (Co-PI). £18,000.

        2016-2020       KCL Dental Institute PhD studentship. Characterisation of EGFR signalling induced by a novel fungal cytolytic peptide toxin.  Applicant: Julian Naglik (PI). £15,000.

         

        Consumable Grants Currently held (chronological order)

        2017-2019       Rosetrees Trust (M680). Critical role for purinergic receptors in Candida albicans infection.  Applicants: Jemima Ho (PI), Julian Naglik (Co-PI). £20,000

        Activities

        Nessim Kichik
        ETOX2019

        Postdoctoral scientist Nessim Kichik from The Naglik Lab updates ETOX2019 on the activities and structure of candidalysin in his poster.

          News

          Julian Naglik among 65 Fellows elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

          The American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) has elected Professor Julian Naglik and 64 peers to the Class of 2024.

          julian-naglik-news

          Group lead

          Contact us

          Professor Julian Naglik
          Centre for Host Micriobiome Interactions

          Hodgkin Building
          Guy's Campus