A. Casadevall

Cell wall melanin impedes growth of the Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide capsule by sequestering calcium

This study shows that melanin in Cryptococcus neoformans sequesters calcium, impairing polysaccharide capsule formation and leading to increased shed polysaccharide that may affect host immunity.

The buoyancy of cryptococcal cells and its implications for transport and persistence of Cryptococcus in aqueous environments

This paper investigates how salinity and polysaccharide rafts affect the buoyancy and persistence of Cryptococcus cells in water, with implications for their transport and pathogenic potential.

Analysis of justification for and gender bias in author order among those contributing equally

This study analyzes how author order in equal contributor listings is determined and whether gender bias persists after a policy requiring explanations for order was implemented.

Glutathione metabolism impacts fungal virulence by modulating the redox environment

This study shows that glutathione metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans affects virulence by modulating redox processes and melanin production in a murine infection model.

Semi-synthetic glycoconjugate vaccine candidate against Cryptococcus neoformans

This paper presents two semi-synthetic glycoconjugate vaccines targeting Cryptococcus neoformans GXM, showing immunogenicity and cross-reactivity in mice.

A food color based colorimetric assay for Cryptococcus neoformans laccase activity

This paper develops a food color-based colorimetric assay to measure laccase activity in Cryptococcus neoformans strains, finding it to be cost-effective, irreversible, and not requiring constant monitoring.

Cryptococcus neoformans rapidly invades the murine brain by sequential breaching of airway and endothelial tissues barriers, followed by engulfment by microglia

Environmental fungi from cool and warm neighborhoods in the urban heat island of Baltimore City show differences in thermal susceptibility and pigmentation

The paper collects and analyzes fungal isolates from urban neighborhoods in Baltimore, finding that warmer area isolates show greater thermotolerance and lighter pigmentation, suggesting local adaptation to heat.

Neutron Scattering Analysis of Cryptococcus neoformans Polysaccharide Reveals Solution Rigidity and Repeating Fractal-like Structural Patterns

This study uses neutron scattering to analyze the structure of Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharides, revealing their solution rigidity and fractal-like patterns.

Analysis and Correction of Inappropriate Image Duplication: The Molecular and Cellular Biology Experience

The paper analyzes image duplication in 960 Molecular and Cellular Biology papers, finds 59 cases, and suggests pre-publication screening to reduce post-publication corrections.

Scientific civility and academic performance

This study introduces the C score, a new indicator that measures scientific civility and its impact on academic performance by analyzing collaboration and productivity data from 1000 scientists.

Cuticular profiling of insecticide resistant Aedes aegypti

This study investigates cuticular resistance mechanisms in insecticide-resistant Aedes aegypti using ssNMR, GC-MS, and TEM, finding increased cuticle thickness and polysaccharide abundance.

Chaotic signatures in host-microbe interactions

This study investigates whether time-to-death datasets can reveal chaotic signatures in host-microbe interactions using simulated and experimental data from C. elegans and Drosophila infected with Pseudomonas species.

Convergent evolution in SARS-CoV-2 Spike creates a variant soup that causes new COVID-19 waves.

This paper identifies convergent evolution in SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein mutations across variants, leading to increased viral fitness and immune escape, and suggests rethinking antibody therapies.

Plasma after both SARS-CoV-2 boosted vaccination and COVID-19 potently neutralizes BQ1.1 and XBB.1

The paper shows that plasma from individuals who received booster vaccinations or recent Omicron infections neutralizes BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 variants more effectively than naive vaccinated individuals.

Melaninization Reduces Cryptococcus neoformans Susceptibility to Mechanical Stress

This study shows melanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells are more resistant to mechanical stress than non-melanized cells, as evidenced by reduced fragmentation and cell area loss after sonication and French press.

Melanization of Candida auris is Associated with Alteration of Extracellular pH

This study identifies a novel mechanism of melanization in C. auris through extracellular alkalinization promoting non-enzymatic oxidation of L-DOPA to melanin.

Fc-engineered antibodies leverage neutrophils to drive control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study uses Fc-engineered antibodies to enhance Mtb control by leveraging neutrophils, showing restrictive Fc variants improve neutrophil survival and antimicrobial activity in a human whole blood model.

Melanization is an important antifungal defense mechanism in Galleria mellonella hosts

This study shows that melanization in Galleria mellonella larvae directly kills Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans by encapsulating fungal cells, with some yeast forms surviving and breaking through encapsulation.

On the relationship between Pathogenic Potential and Infective Inoculum

The paper quantifies the relationship between pathogenic potential and infective inoculum in microbes, finding exponential and linear patterns that reflect differences in host-microbe interactions.

Lyophilization induces alterations in cryptococcal exopolysaccharide resulting in reduced antibody binding

This study shows that lyophilization alters the structure of Cryptococcus neoformans exopolysaccharide, reducing antibody binding.

Bionized nanoferrite particles alter the course of experimental Cryptococcus neoformans pneumonia

Bionized nanoferrite nanoparticles reduce Cryptococcus neoformans pneumonia severity in mice by modulating inflammation and improving survival.

Bet-hedging antimicrobial strategies in macrophage phagosome acidification drive the dynamics of Cryptococcus neoformans intracellular escape mechanisms

This study identifies that stochastic phagosomal acidification and oxidative stress drive stochastic Dragotcytosis in Cryptococcus neoformans, enabling fungal escape from macrophages.

Cryptococcus neoformans capsule regrowth experiments reveal dynamics of enlargement and architecture

This study isolates and characterizes Cryptococcus neoformans capsule polysaccharides using physical and enzymatic methods, revealing that the capsule is assembled from smaller polymers added distally.

Cryptococcus neoformans releases proteins during intracellular residence that affect the outcome of the fungal-macrophage interaction

This study identifies fungal proteins released by Cryptococcus neoformans during macrophage infection, revealing their potential role in modulating virulence and host-pathogen interactions.

Cryptococcus neoformans melanization incorporates multiple catecholamines to produce polytypic melanin

This study shows that Cryptococcus neoformans produces polytypic melanin by incorporating multiple catecholamines during infection, which has similar protective properties to melanin made from dopamine alone.

Gene-dependent yeast cell death pathway requires AP-3 vesicle trafficking leading to vacuole membrane permeabilization

The paper identifies an AP-3-dependent pathway in yeast leading to vacuole membrane permeabilization and cell death, conserved in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Fungal extracellular vesicles are involved in intraspecies intracellular communication

This study shows fungal extracellular vesicles mediate intraspecies communication by regulating gene expression and phenotypic changes in Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

AgMESH, a peritrophic matrix-associated protein embedded in Anopheles gambiaemelanotic capsules modulates malaria parasite infection

The paper identifies AgMESH, a mosquito protein associated with melanin-based immunity, and shows its role in peritrophic matrix integrity and malaria parasite infection.

Hinge Influences in Murine IgG Binding to Cryptococcus neoformans Capsule

This paper investigates how the constant region, specifically the hinge, influences antigen binding in murine IgG antibodies targeting Cryptococcus neoformans capsule polysaccharides, showing that the hinge is necessary but not sufficient for binding differences between isotypes.