Elena P. Bulgac, Ph.D.

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Chromosomes instability of human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Survival due to specific chromosome rearrangements.

Candida albicans is a unicellular budding fungus that forms part of normal gut or genitalia microflora. In immunocompromized humans, however, C. albicans becomes an important opportunistic pathogen that can cause mortality. C. albicans is unique among other fungal pathogens by having an ability to infect divers sites of human body, including skin, nails, mucosal surfaces, as well as any other tissues or inner organs. In the laboratory, this fungus demonstrates an impressive ability to flourish under extreme pH and temperatures, as well as in other extreme environments. C. albicans possesses an acute ability to counter act the environmental stresses and to mount adequate phenotypic responses.

Current Appointments

• Research Associate Professor (Part-Time) - Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD)

Education
PhD Genetics	USSR - Non-Medical School	1974
MS Genetics	USSR - Non-Medical School	1971

Recent Journal Articles
Showing the 5 most recent journal articles. (34 available)
Ahmad, A.; Kabir, M. A.; Kravets, A.; Andaluz, E.; Larriba, G.; Rustchenko, E.;. "Chromosome instability and unusual features of some widely used strains of Candida albicans". Yeast 25 (2008): 433-48.
Rustchenko, E.;. "Specific chromosome alterations of Candida albicans: mechanisms for adaptation to pathogenicity". Evolutionary biology of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Edited by C. Nombela, G. H. Cassel, F. Baquero and J. A. Gutiérrez-Fuentes. ASM Press (2007): (in press).
Rustchenko, E.;. "Chromosome instability in Candida albicans." FEMS Yeast Research 7 (2007): 1-11.
Rustchenko, E.;. "Specific chromosome alterations of Candida albicans: mechanism for adaptation to pathogenicity". In: Introduction to the evolutionary biology of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Edited by C. Nombela, F. Baquero, J. A. Gutiérrez-Fuentes, ASM Press (2007): pp. 197-212..
Andaluz, E.; Gomez-Raja, J.; Hermosa, B.; Ciudad, T.; Rustchenko, E.; Calderone, R.; Larriba, G.;. "Loss and fragmentation of chromosome 5 are major events linked to the adaptation of rad52-DeltaDelta strains of Candida albicans to sorbose". Fungal Genet Biol 44 (2007): 789-98.