Anita Sil

Temperature-driven isoform switching reprograms developmental gene expression in a human fungal pathogen

This study identifies temperature-driven isoform switching in Histoplasma that reprograms developmental gene expression during thermal dimorphism.

Optimization of conidial production in the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma

This study optimizes conidial production in Histoplasma, identifying media and conditions that enhance conidiation and germination, and reveals strain-specific responses and cell wall composition differences.

Macrophage phagocytosis of Coccidioides promotes its differentiation into the parasitic form

This study shows that macrophage phagocytosis of Coccidioides arthroconidia promotes their differentiation into spherules, a pathogenic form, through direct interaction rather than soluble factors.

Genome Dynamics and Chromosome Structural Variations in Histoplasma ohiense, a fungal pathogen of humans

This study presents the first telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies for Histoplasma ohiense and identifies genome plasticity, including translocations and transposon activity, in clinical isolates.

The Rpd3 histone deacetylase is critical for temperature-mediated morphogenesis and virulence in the human fungal pathogen Histoplasma

This study identifies Rpd3 as essential for temperature-mediated morphogenesis and virulence in Histoplasma by regulating gene expression and histone acetylation.

An unusual genetic switch controls Mycobacterium avium pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance and colony morphology

This study identifies a genetic switch involving IS1245 transposition and Erp/MarP that controls colony morphology, virulence, and antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium avium.

Rapid gain and loss of a chromosome drives key morphology and virulence phenotypes in Histoplasma, a fungal pathogen of humans

The paper shows that rapid gain and loss of chromosome seven in Histoplasma affects morphology, virulence, and environmental adaptation.

A remarkable expansion of secreted cysteine knot proteins reveals novel virulence factors in the human fungal pathogen Histoplasma

The paper identifies a large expansion of knottin genes in Histoplasma and shows their role in virulence and host cell lysis during macrophage infection.

Transcriptomic atlas of the morphologic development of the fungal pathogen Coccidioides reveals key phase-enriched transcripts

This study creates a transcriptomic atlas of Coccidioides development, identifying spherule-enriched transcripts and RYP1-regulated genes critical for virulence.

Optimizing in vitro spherulation cues in the fungal pathogen Coccidioides

This study optimizes in vitro spherulation in Coccidioides by adjusting culture conditions, media composition, and arthroconidium preparation to enhance spherule growth and endospore release.

Inferring the composition of a mixed culture of natural microbial isolates by deep sequencing

The paper develops a method to infer strain composition in microbial mixed cultures using natural SNPs as barcodes, validated on Coccidioides posadasii isolates and applied to GWAS.