Profile
Kerry Smith
Genetics and Biochemistry
Professor
Director, Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovations Center
864-656-6935
Life Sciences Building 257B [Office]
Life Sciences Building 260G [Lab]
Life Sciences Building 273 [Research Laboratory Service]
Life Sciences Building 275 [Research Laboratory Service]
Educational Background
B.S., Applied Biology, Georgia Tech
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Research Interests
Invasive fungal infections cause nearly one and a half million deaths annually, accounting for nearly 50% of all AIDS-related deaths. In fact, more people die from the top ten invasive fungal diseases than from tuberculosis or malaria. Greater than 90% of all reported fungal deaths results from species of the genera Cryptococcus, Candida, Aspergillus, and Pneumocystis. The basdiomycetous fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is the most frequent cause of fungal meningitis and is responsible for nearly half of the invasive fungal infections. The CDC estimates the yearly burden of cryptococcal meningitis to be nearly one million cases with greater than 181,000 deaths . The vast majority of patients with cryptococcosis have defects in cell-mediated immunity, specifically in CD4+ lymphocytes. AIDS is a major risk factor and mortality rates in AIDS patients range from 15-20% in the US and 55-70% in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.
C. neoformans is ubiquitous in the soil worldwide and exposure is common as most individuals produce antibodies against this fungus by school age. Infection occurs upon inhalation into the lungs. Alveolar macrophages, which present a first line of host defense against C. neoformans infection, provide a glucose- and amino acid-poor environment, and nonpreferred carbon sources such as lactate and acetate are likely important early in establishment of a pulmonary infection. The Smith lab's focus is identifying and characterizing proteins/enzymes necessary for acetate utilization as that may facilitate identification of suitable targets for new antifungal therapies.
Research Group (Lab)
Perry Kezh (Ph.D. student)
Rodrigo Catalan-Hurtado (Ph.D. student)
Oly Ahmed (Ph.D. student)
Jasmine Meltzer (4910 researcher)
Ashley Lupichuk (4910 researcher)
Courses Taught
BCHM 3010 Molecular Biochemistry
BCHM/GEN 4910 Directed Research in Biochemistry and Genetics
BCHM/GEN 4920 Honors Thesis in Biochemistry/Genetics
BCHM/GEN 4930 Senior Seminar
BCHM 8140 Advanced Biochemistry
BCHM/GEN 9910 Doctoral Dissertation Research
Honors and Awards
2018 University Research, Scholarship, and Artistic Achievement Award
The award recognizes Clemson University faculty who have achieved the highest level of national and international recognition (inaugural class) honors/awards (including from Clemson University (or elsewhere)
2015 National Scholars Program Awards of Distinction
The Awards of Distinction are presented by graduating National Scholars to faculty and staff who have served as significant mentors, both in class and out, and have helped develop the students intellectually, professionally, and personally during their time at Clemson
2012 Douglas W. Bradbury Award
The Award recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the Honors College at Clemson University
