Iuliana Ene Research Group

Georgetown University

How do fungal pathogens change genetically to survive antifungal drugs and the human host environment? Her laboratory analyzes genome plasticity to document chromosomal and copy-number changes that occur during drug exposure. Researchers measure phenotypic heterogeneity within fungal populations to link cell-to-cell communication with drug tolerance and resistance. The group investigates how host adaptation emerges by comparing genetic diversity and expression profiles across strains from different environments. She pursues antifungal drug discovery by identifying vulnerabilities that could guide development of improved antifungal therapies.