Ernesto Cota

Ernesto Cota is an Associate Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He holds affiliations with the Centre for Structural Biology, Electron Microscopy Centre, Fungal Science Network, and Institute of Chemical Biology. His research focuses on microbial pathogenesis, particularly fungal pathogens like Candida albicans and Candida auris, aiming to elucidate virulence factors and develop diagnostic tools and therapies. Key projects include studying interactions between Candida spp. and the human serum proteome, and developing cyclic peptides targeting fungal surface proteins.

Research interests span structural biology, biochemistry, and immunology, with emphasis on fungal-host interactions, drug design, and antifungal strategies. Cota's work addresses critical clinical needs in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens. He supervises the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Chemical Biology and contributes to interdisciplinary teams at Imperial's structural biology hubs.

His lab employs advanced biophysical techniques and structural analysis to understand molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis. Recent studies highlight contributions to Candidalysin toxin analysis, Als adhesin structures, and malaria parasite motor complexes. While no awards or grants are explicitly listed, his affiliations and publications underscore significant collaborative and institutional support.

Key affiliations include leadership roles in the Fungal Science Network and the CDT in Chemical Biology, reflecting his commitment to training future researchers. Work continues on translating structural insights into clinical applications for fungal infections, a pressing global health priority.