University of Alabama at Birmingham · BiologyViral Infection and Fungal Response Lab
Sixto Manuel Leal · Birmingham, Alabama
Research Focus
Dr. Sixto Manuel Leal's lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham focuses on understanding the interactions between viral infections, like SARS-CoV-2, and subsequent fungal infections, particularly COVID Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA). The lab employs advanced techniques to analyze how immune dysregulation during viral infections affects antifungal immunity, with the goal of informing new therapeutic strategies. They also enhance research capabilities in a high-containment biolab environment to prepare for future health threats.
SARS-CoV-2CAPAfungal infectionsbiocontainmentimmune responsebiosafetyprogrammed cell deathiron metabolismneutrophil recruitmentpandemic preparedness
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of lytic programmed cell death in pulmonary epithelial cells during viral infections.
AIM 02Analyze how SARS-CoV-2 alters the immune environment to promote fungal infections.
AIM 03Assess the impact of iron availability on the growth of mold following viral infections.
AIM 04Develop new therapeutic strategies to mitigate COVID Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
AIM 05Establish a highly skilled workforce for BSL-3 research and pandemic response.
Skills the Lab Values
BSL-3 laboratory techniquescell cultureflow cytometryimmunofluorescencespatial transcriptomicsmouse modelsmolecular biology techniquessiderophore biosynthesishigh-resolution imagingbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications123bottom 44% of dept.574th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.9kbottom 21% of dept.814th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.