Welcome to the Cramer Laboratory in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Montana State University in beautiful Bozeman, Montana. Our laboratory is focused on elucidating the pathogenesis mechanisms of the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). Af causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompromised patients and hypersensitivity type diseases such as Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in immunocompetent individuals. Patients that acquire IPA have often undergone solid organ or bone marrow transplants for various cancers. Genetic similarity between humans and fungi results in current treatment options being limited and often toxic. Thus, mortality rates are around 50%, depending on variables including timing of diagnosis and underlying disease, are still common. A better understanding of how Aspergillus fumigatus is able to colonize, infect, and cause disease in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients should lead to better diagnostics and improved therapies. To gain this understanding, we utilize molecular biology, functional genomics, bioinformatics, immunology, and animal models to better understand invasive pulmonary aspergillosis pathogenesis mechanisms.

Currently, we are focusing on two attributes of the fungus that we hypothesize allow it to cause invasive and chronic disease: tolerance to low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) found in vivo during infection and production of a unique carbohydrate (trehalose) that may protect the fungus from environmental stresses found in vivo. In addition, we are exploring how the presence of in vivo hypoxia affects the antifungal response of the innate immune system. Together, we anticipate that these studies will lead to a fuller understanding of IPA pathogenesis that can be used to improve treatment outcomes.

In addition to our primary research focus on Aspergillus pathogenesis, as part of our Montana Agricultural Experiment Station project, we are interested in the pathogenesis mechanisms of the fungal like microsporidian Nosema ceranae in honey bees. Microsporidia are obligate pathogens and little is known about their pathogenesis mechanisms, particularly in the context of honey bees. Currently, we working on fine tuning an in vitro tissue culture propagation system to allow better study of this emerging pathogen that some postulate is linked to Colony Collapse Disorder.