The Beattie Lab is interested in understanding how the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus causes disease and identifying novel antifungals for the treatment of these infections. We use high throughput screening against A. fumigatus to identify novel molecules with anti-mold activity then apply biochemical, genetic, and microbiological techniques to understand how these compounds work against fungi, evaluate the toxicity to mammalian cells, and test the efficacy in murine models of fungal disease. We are also interested in understanding how A. fumigatus crosses the blood-brain barrier and establishes infection in the brain. Using murine models combined with in vitro cell culture models, our goal is to identify fungal determinants that are critical for entering and growing within the brain.