Dr. Lesly Temesvari, a faculty member and researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC), has been awarded a NIH R21 grant to investigate potential treatments for Acanthamoeba castellanii, a pathogenic amoeba that can cause severe, blinding eye infections, particularly in contact lens wearers.
The study will assess the efficacy of thymosin-beta-4, a naturally occurring peptide with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, as a potential treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis. This research could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies to combat a challenging and often misdiagnosed infection.
Dr. Temesvari’ s work highlights EPIC’s commitment to advancing biomedical research and addressing pressing public health challenges