Maurizio Del Poeta

Maurizio Del Poeta is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University's School of Medicine. With an MD from the University of Ancona, Italy (1992), Dr. Del Poeta leads a research program focused on fungal pathogenesis and the development of novel antifungal therapies for immunocompromised patients.

Dr. Del Poeta's research centers on sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in fungal and mammalian cells, particularly in Cryptococcus neoformans. His laboratory investigates how fungal sphingolipids contribute to pathogenesis and virulence, with the goal of identifying new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. As immunodeficient populations grow and live longer due to medical advances, life-threatening fungal infections have increased, while current antifungal treatments remain inadequate due to delayed diagnosis, side effects, and drug resistance.

His work has established critical connections between sphingolipid pathways and fungal virulence, leading to the identification of potential drug targets such as glucosylceramide synthase and ceramide synthases. Dr. Del Poeta has pioneered research on acylhydrazone derivatives as novel antifungal agents and explored vaccine strategies using fungal polysaccharides like glucuronoxylomannan.

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued innovation in:

• Targeting ceramide synthases for new antifungal development
• Understanding iron acquisition strategies in pathogenic fungi
• Developing vaccine strategies against cryptococcosis
• Investigating molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance
• Exploring combination therapies for difficult-to-treat fungal infections

Dr. Del Poeta's research bridges fundamental science and clinical applications, addressing the urgent need for improved diagnostics and therapeutics in medical mycology. His laboratory maintains active investigations into fungal stress responses, membrane biology, and host-pathogen interactions that continue to advance the field of fungal pathogenesis.