Callahan Katrak has been awarded a two-year NIH F30 training grant totaling $83,225 
from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for her project titled “Exploring the Role of C. albicans Oxidative Stress Pathways in S. mutans Reactive Oxygen Species Tolerance.” Callahan, a seventh-year DMD/PhD candidate, is mentored by Dr. Jacqueline Abranches in the Department of Oral Biology.
Callahan began her academic journey at Rollins College, where she earned a double major in Chemistry and Biology in 2018. She then joined the University of Florida College of Dentistry in August 2018 as a dual-degree student in the DMD/PhD program. Her research investigates the role of C. albicans-produced catalase, an enzyme that protects S. mutans from oxidative stress, aiding its survival in the oral environment. Additionally, her work examines the impact of the S. mutans adhesion protein Cnm on this symbiotic relationship, providing new insights into the molecular interactions between these organisms. By exploring the synergistic relationship between the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans, Callahan’s research offers innovative perspectives on how these microorganisms enhance each other’s virulence and survival in the oral cavity.