R. Fortune-Grant

The sulfur-related metabolic status of Aspergillus fumigatus during infection reveals cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase as a promising antifungal target.

The paper identifies genes involved in sulfur metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus during infection, highlighting ShmB as a promising antifungal target due to its essential role in virulence and structural differences from the human enzyme.

Cryptococcus displays spore-specific invasion of alveolar epithelial cells

This study shows Cryptococcus spores invade alveolar epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting these cells may serve as an intracellular niche for dissemination and latency.

Mutual inhibition of airway epithelial responses supports viral and fungal co-pathogenesis during coinfection

This study shows that viral and fungal infections inhibit each other's clearance by airway epithelial cells during coinfection, promoting disease severity.

Distinct cohorts of Aspergillus fumigatus transcription factors are required for epithelial damage occurring via contact- or soluble effector-mediated mechanisms

This study identifies distinct transcription factor cohorts required for early and late phases of epithelial damage caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.

Exploring a novel genomic safe-haven site in the human pathogenic mould Aspergillus fumigatus.

The paper identifies a conserved genomic safe-haven locus in Aspergillus fumigatus for inserting genetic constructs without affecting phenotype.

Epithelial uptake of Aspergillus fumigatus drives efficient fungal clearance in vivo and is aberrant in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The paper shows that airway epithelial cells efficiently kill inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus spores in vivo, but this process is impaired in COPD.

Aspergillus fumigatus drives tissue damage via iterative assaults upon mucosal integrity and immune homeostasis

This paper investigates how Aspergillus fumigatus causes lung damage by analyzing host responses to different fungal morphotypes and secreted products in cultured cells and a mouse model.

Targeting methionine synthase in a fungal pathogen causes a metabolic imbalance that impacts cell energetics, growth and virulence

This paper identifies methionine synthase as a promising antifungal target by showing its essentiality in Aspergillus fumigatus and validates its druggability using a genetic model of established infections.