Dr Stefan Bidula

Biography

Following a BSc (Hons) in Genetics and Molecular Biology, I pursued a PhD investigating the roles of proteins called ficolins in the innate immune response to the pathogenic mould Aspergillus fumigatus (both UEA). I then moved to the Aberdeen Fungal Group to help characterise the role of the Melanin sensing C-type lectin receptor (MelLec) in the immune response to A. fumigatus. We found that this receptor was essential in both mice and humans. After a 5 year break away from microbiology to investigate the roles of purinergic receptors in immune and stem cells, I returned to the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology in 2022 to start my own group.

We are now trying to understand the roles of non-canonical nucleic acids structures that form in the DNA and RNA of fungal pathogens of humans, animals, and plants. Our aims are two-fold; to unveil the unknown functions of these structures in regulating fundamental biological processes and to determine whether these structures represent new targets to overcome antifungal resistance. We are also trying to enhance our understanding of how the immune system recognises fungal pathogens and clears these infections.

We use a wide range of microscopic, pharmacological, molecular, analytical chemistry, clinical, and bioinformatic approaches to answer our scientific questions.