Piotr R. Stempinski

Genetic determinants that permit growth without the core septin Cdc12 in Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper identifies genetic factors that allow Cryptococcus neoformans to grow without the core septin Cdc12, revealing compensatory mechanisms for septin-independent cell integrity.

Strain-specific thermotolerance, UV-C tolerance, and biofilm formation on clinically relevant plastic substrates in the emerging opportunistic pathogen Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

This study compares thermotolerance, UV-C tolerance, and biofilm formation in R. mucilaginosa strains from different origins on medical plastics.

A role for aquaporin (Aqp1) in the control of Cryptococcus neoformans cell morphology

This study investigates the role of Aqp1 in Cryptococcus neoformans cell morphology, finding that its loss leads to smaller cells while overexpression causes enlarged titan-like cells linked to redox physiology and oxidative stress.

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.

Proteins associated with Cryptococcus spp. extracellular polysaccharides are implicated in virulence, capsule integrity, and biofilm formation.

This study identifies four proteins associated with cryptococcal exopolysaccharides that affect virulence, capsule integrity, and biofilm formation through mutant analysis and mass spectrometry.

Human and murine Cryptococcus neoformans infection selects for common genomic changes in an environmental isolate.

The paper shows that environmental Cryptococcus neoformans strains undergo genomic and phenotypic changes during mammalian infection, suggesting animal virulence drives genetic adaptation.