51cg

People

Dr Delma Childers

Dr Delma Childers
Dr Delma Childers
Dr Delma Childers

Senior Lecturer

Accepting PhDs

51cg
Email Address
delma.childers@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 437495
Office Address

Institute of Medical Sciences

Room 4.22

School/Department
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Biography

Senior Lecturer in Medical Sciences, 2023 - present

Lecturer in Medical Sciences - 2019 - 2023

Research Fellow with the Aberdeen Fungal Group, 2016 - 2019

PDRA at University of Edinburgh, School of Physics and Astronomy 2015-2016

Postdoctoral Researcher with the Aberdeen Fungal Group 2013-2015

PhD (Microbiology & Immunology), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA 2006-2012

BSc (Biology), Schreiner University, Kerrville, Texas, USA 2003-2006

Memberships and Affiliations

Internal Memberships

Aberdeen Fungal Group

Elected Member, University Senate (2020-2024)

Infection and Immunology Research Programme, Institute of Medical Sciences

External Memberships

External Affiliations

Board of Reviewers, Microbiology journal

Elected Eukaryotic Division member, Microbiology Society, 2021-2023

Member of the Young Academy of Scotland, 2020-2025

 

Public Engagement

Dr. Delma Childers has been a STEM Ambassador since 2015. She has contributed to 51cg's Door's Open Day at the IMS Building and family activities at May Festival.

Dr. Childers was awarded 'Scientist of the Week' during week 7 in the 2020 Medical Research Zone for 'I'm a Scientist... Stay at Home'. She enjoyed answering student's questions about science and careers during lockdown chats hosted by the 'I'm a Scientist' team.

Dr. Childers also was among the first group of women scientists to take part in Aberdeen's inaugural Soapbox Science event in May 2018.

Soapbox Science 2018

Latest Publications

  • Mannan is a context-dependent shield that modifies virulence in Nakaseomyces glabratus

    Ribeiro, G. F., Priest, E., Heaney, H., Richardson, J. P., Childers, D. S.
    Virulence, vol. 16, no. 1, 2491650
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Is Metabolic Generalism the Breakfast of Champions for Pathogenic Candida species?

    Childers, D., Usher, J.
    PLoS Pathogens, vol. 20, no. 12, e1012752
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Impact of secreted glucanases upon the cell surface and fitness of Candida albicans during colonisation and infection.

    Ma, Q., Pradhan, A., Leaves, I., Hickey, E., Roselletti, E., Dambuza, I., Larcombe, D. E., de Assis, L. J., Wilson, D., Erwig, L. P., Netea, M. G., Childers, D. S., Brown, G. D., Gow, N. A. R., Brown, A. J. P.
    The Cell Surface, vol. 11, 100128
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • A CO2 sensing module modulates β-1,3-glucan exposure in Candida albicans.

    Avelar, G. M., Pradhan, A., Ma, Q., Hickey, E., Leaves, I., Liddle, C., Rodriguez Rondon, A. V., Kaune, A., Shaw, S., Maufrais, C., Sertour, N., Bain, J. M., Larcombe, D. E., de Assis, L. J., Netea, M. G., Munro, C. A., Childers, D. S., Erwig, L. P., Brown, G. D., Gow, N. A. R., Bougnoux, M., d'Enfert, C., Brown, A. J. P.
    mBio, vol. 15, no. 2, e0189823
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Glucose-enhanced oxidative stress resistance-A protective anticipatory response that enhances the fitness of Candida albicans during systemic infection

    Larcombe, D. E., Bohovych, I. M., Pradhan, A., Ma, Q., Hickey, E., Leaves, I., Cameron, G., Avelar, G. M., de Assis, L. J., Childers, D. S., Bain, J. M., Lagree, K., Mitchell, A. P., Netea, M. G., Erwig, L. P., Gow, N. A. R., Brown, A. J. P.
    PLoS Pathogens, vol. 19, no. 7, pp. e1011505
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

View My Publications

Research

Research Overview

My interests are centered around understanding how fungi adapt to their hosts and to antifungal agents to still cause infections. The major focus of my research is to investigate how the antifungal-resistant emerging fungal pathogen, Candida glabrata (recently renamed Nakaseomyces glabratus), remodels its surface to inhibit host immune activation and control disease outcomes. This research programme uses cytometric analyses, innate immune interaction assays, and molecular approaches to establish how this important intracellular fungal pathogen is detected by host cells and evades clearance mechanisms. 

Another facet of my research builds on my earlier work demonstrating that Saccharomyces cerevisiae clinical isolates are predominantly metabolic generalists that have lost glucose repression. This work is currently exploring how fungal metabolic mechanisms contribute to microbial persistence in their hosts.

My main aim is for my research to lead to a better understanding of fungal antimicrobial resistance, persistence, and pathogenesis. Understanding these facets of fungal biology is the key to improving diagnosis and treatment of serious fungal diseases.

 

Research Areas

Accepting PhDs

I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Biomedical Sciences

  • Supervising
  • Accepting PhDs
View Research Area

Research Specialisms

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Mycology

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is , published under the licence.

Supervision

My current supervision areas are: Biomedical Sciences.

I am currently accepting expressions of interest from students interested in pursuing a Masters by Research in Medical Sciences degree.

 

Lab alumni

Gabriela Fior Ribeiro, PhD

Logan Tomlinson, PhD

Eszter Denes, MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

Jonas Lupfer, MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

Lauren Marshall, MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

Erin Slater, MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

Kristine Wright, MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

 

Supervisees

  • MISS SURAYA FAWCETT

Funding and Grants

Carnegie Trust Research Incentives Grant, March 2020-2021

Royal Society Research Grant, October 2020-2021

Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Round 6 Award, 2021-2023

Teaching

Courses

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Programme Lead 

MSc by Research in Medical Sciences

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Other roles

Offering Honours and MSc projects

Personal Tutor

Publications

Page 2 of 4 Results 11 to 20 of 32

  • What ‘Omics can tell us about antifungal adaptation

    Ribeiro, G. F., Denes, E., Heaney, H., Childers, D.
    FEMS Yeast Research, vol. 21, no. 8, foab070
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Immune cells fold and damage fungal hyphae

    Bain, J., Alonso, F., Childers, D., Walls, C., MacKenzie, K., Pradhan, A., Lewis, L. E., Louw, J., Avelar, G. M., Larcombe, D. E., Netea, M. G., Gow, N. A., Brown, G. D., Erwig, L., Brown, A. J.
    PNAS, vol. 118, no. 15, e2020484118
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • COVID-19 and the Uncertain Future of PhD Research in Scotland

    Childers, D.
    Non-textual Forms: Web Publications and Websites
    • [ONLINE]

  • Epitope shaving promotes fungal immune evasion

    Childers, D. S., Mol Avelar, G., Bain, J., Pradhan, A., Larcombe, D. E., Netea, M. G., Erwig, L. P., Gow, N. A., Brown, A. J.
    mBio, vol. 11, no. 4, e00984-20
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Nine Things Genomics Can Tell Us 51cg Candida auris

    Chybowska, A. D., Childers, D. S., Farrer, R. A.
    Frontiers in Genetics, vol. 11, 351
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Impact of the Environment upon the Candida albicans Cell Wall and Resultant Effects upon Immune Surveillance

    Childers, D. S., Avelar, G. M., Bain, J. M., Larcombe, D. E., Pradhan, A., Budge, S., Heaney, H., Brown, A. J. P.
    The Fungal Cell Wall: An Armour and a Weapon for Human Fungal Pathogens. Latge, J. (ed.). Springer, pp. 297-330, 34 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Non-canonical signalling mediates changes in fungal cell wall PAMPs that drive immune evasion

    Pradhan, A., Avelar, G. M., Bain, J. M., Childers, D., Pelletier, C., Larcombe, D. E., Shekhova, E., Netea, M. G., Brown, G. D., Erwig, L., Gow, N. A. R., Brown, A. J. P.
    Nature Communications, vol. 10, 5315
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Growth, Viability, and Death of Planktonic and Biofilm Sphingomonas desiccabilis in Simulated Martian Brines

    Stevens, A. H., Childers, D., Fox-Powell, M., Nicholson, N., Jhoti, E., Cockell, C. S.
    Astrobiology, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 87-98
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Hypoxia Promotes Immune Evasion by Triggering β-glucan Masking on the Candida albicans Cell Surface via Mitochondrial and cAMP-Protein Kinase A Signaling

    Pradhan, A., Avelar, G. M., Bain, J. M., Childers, D. S., Larcombe, D. E., Netea, M. G., Shekhova, E., Munro, C. A., Brown, G. D., Erwig, L. P., Gow, N. A. R., Brown, A. J. P.
    mBio, vol. 9, e01318-18
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Lactate signalling regulates fungal β-glucan masking and immune evasion

    Ballou, E., M. Avelar, G., Childers, D. S., Mackie, J., Bain, J. M., Wagener, J., Kastora, S. L., Panea, M. D., Hardison, S. E., Walker, L., Erwig, L. P., Munro, C. A., Gow, N. A. R., Brown, G. D., MacCallum, D. M., Brown, A. J. P.
    Nature Microbiology, vol. 2, 16238
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
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