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Five William Paterson University student researchers working alongside Associate Professor of Biology Kelley Healey have identified a biological pathway that plays a critical role in drug resistance associated with a dangerous fungal pathogen.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Microbiology Spectrum, was co-authored by Healey and five students who conducted research in her laboratory on campus: Zubayeda Uddin ’25, MS ’26—who is the study’s first author—along with fellow WP student researchers Saira Tahsin ’23, Klara Valickova ’25, Laura Fruhauf De Macedo ’24, MS ’25, and Gabrielle Popencuk ’22.
The research examined Candida glabrata, an increasingly common cause of serious fungal infections known for developing resistance to antifungal drugs. Using laboratory models, the researchers investigated how a protein called Slt2 helps the fungus withstand echinocandins, an important class of medications used to treat Candida infections.
“The student researchers played significant roles in this study, particularly through the construction of over 20 new strains and comprehensive drug susceptibility testing,” Healey explains.
Overall, the students’ work was “essential to the project and a major part of the published manuscript.”
The researchers found that disrupting SLT2 eliminated echinocandin resistance in a significant subset of the drug-resistant strains they studied.
“This study provides both further insight into the regulation of echinocandin drug resistance in Candida glabrata and a possible therapeutic target for resistant infections,” Healey explains.
The research opportunity was particularly significant for Uddin, who earned her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from WP in 2025 and her master’s degree in biotechnology in 2026. Her designation as the study’s first author reflects the central role she played in the project.
“Being part of this research gave me the opportunity to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it to a real scientific question. I contributed to the experimental work, analyzed our findings, and presented our lab’s research at seminars and conferences, which helped me develop my scientific communication skills and confidence. The experiences and skills I gained through research also helped me secure a pharmaceutical internship as a junior, where I was able to apply what I had learned in a professional setting,” says Uddin, who is currently working fulltime in a clinical diagnostics lab.
“Seeing the work progress from an undergraduate research project to a peer-reviewed publication has been incredibly rewarding and showed me firsthand how undergraduate research can open doors and shape your career.”
Of her William Paterson peers who worked on the study, three are employed as laboratory technicians – in the healthcare, higher education, and pharmaceutical industries respectively – and one is pursuing a PhD in biological chemistry.
The study was also co-authored by Tengfei Long, a postdoctoral research associate, and Yanan Zhao, professor of pharmacy practice, both at the University at Buffalo.
Healey says the study exemplifies the kind of hands-on research experience William Paterson faculty members strive to provide students while advancing research in their fields. “Faculty with active research programs dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to ensure that our research students have meaningful experiences and succeed post-graduation,” she says.
