Paula McCourt, PhD
Assistant Professor
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Paula McCourt, PhD
Assistant Professor
Education
PhD, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
BA, Biology, Holy Family College, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
- Proper sterol distribution is required for candida albicans hyphal formation and virulence
- PP2ACdc55 regulates G1 cyclin stability
- Arv1 lipid transporter function is conserved between pathogenic and nonpathogenic fungi
- Stress-induced ceramide-activated protein phosphatase can compensate for loss of amphiphysin-like activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and functions to reinitiate endocytosis
- Altering sphingolipid metabolism in saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking the amphiphysin ortholog rvs161 reinitiates sugar transporter endocytosis
Research & Clinical Interests
I have many years of experience teaching and mentoring in the biotechnological sciences. While working as a research scientist at Medical Diagnostic Laboratories/Venenum, I launched and led the development of the human genetic diagnostic panel designed to identify both human and fungal genes which influence patients’ predisposition/resistance to fungal mycoses. I have led the construction of molecular biological laboratories specifically designed to grow and house pathogenic microbiologicals, sensitive cell and tissue cultures, and murine strains. I have studied the role of the lipid transporter protein, Arv1, in Candida albicans virulence and examined inhibitors of Arv1 to prevent pathogenic fungal growth. My specialties include working with fluorescent microscopy, cloning and designing plasmids, and growing a variety of specialized microbiological and mammalian cell cultures to understand the antimicrobial resistance of Candida albicans. In addition, I lead students in understanding the key ideas of viral bioprocess development using insect cell culture in the production of the baculovirus expression system.