About
Dr. Andrew Jezewski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics & Biochemistry and a member of the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC) at Clemson University. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing CO2tolerance as a virulence trait in Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. His work has provided novel insights into how metabolic plasticity enables fungal pathogens to adapt to host environments, with implications for therapeutic development. Dr. Jezewski earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Washington University in St. Louis and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Iowa, where he studied requirements for host adaptation of fungal pathogens. His research program is currently funded by the NIH through the K22 Career Transition Award, where he is focused on elucidating the metabolic and nutrient requirements for the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans. Dr. Jezewski is actively building collaborative research initiatives with Clemson faculty through EPIC and the Center for Human Genetics. He is focused on expanding his relationship with external clinical partners, including The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and PRISMA health, to study metabolic adaptations in clinical Cryptococcus isolates and develop antifungal drug screening strategies. His expertise in molecular microbiology, metabolomics, and genetic screening complements interdisciplinary research in infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, and health bioinformatics. Through his involvement in CUSHR, he aims to expand translational research efforts to combat fungal infections and improve patient outcomes.
Visit Dr. Jezewski's Faculty Profile.
How their research is transforming health care
Fungal infections remain a significant yet often overlooked public health threat, particularly for immunocompromised individuals. His research focuses on Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen responsible for severe respiratory and neurological infections, and seeks to uncover the metabolic adaptations that enable its survival within the host. Understanding these mechanisms provides a foundation for identifying novel therapeutic targets that could lead to more effective antifungal treatments. A major challenge in fungal disease management is the limited availability of antifungal drugs and the emergence of resistance. His work integrates molecular genetics, metabolomics, and drug screening strategies to explore metabolic vulnerabilities in Cryptococcus and other fungal pathogens. By collaborating with clinical partners, he aims to translate these findings into meaningful advances in patient care, including improved diagnostics and novel antifungal interventions. Through partnerships with Clemson researchers and health system collaborators, he is working to integrate clinical and laboratory-based research approaches. Collaborations with Prisma Health and MUSC will allow us to study clinical isolates in the context of patient outcomes, providing critical insights into treatment response and resistance mechanisms. Additionally, his work with Clemson’s Center for Human Genetics is leveraging advanced computational tools to unravel the genetic basis of fungal virulence and antifungal susceptibility. By bridging fundamental fungal biology with clinical applications, his research seeks to transform how we understand and treat fungal infections, ultimately improving patient care and expanding the options available for antifungal therapeutics.
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Health Research Expertise Keywords
Fungal pathogenesis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Antifungal drug discovery, Host-pathogen interactions, Infectious diseases, CO2 tolerance, Translational mycology, Genomics and metabolomics, Clinical microbiology.
