Megan C. McDonald

Tangerine: a new family of Starships from lichen-forming fungi

The paper identifies a new transposable element, Tangerine, in the lichen fungus Xanthoria parietina, showing evidence of horizontal gene transfer and potential role in lichen genome evolution.

Adaptive genomic compartments shaped by giant mobile elements underpin the ancient emergence of fungal pathogenicity

The paper identifies a Starship transposable element-derived genomic region containing a PKS-NRPS gene cluster essential for pathogenicity in Colletotrichum lupini.

Mutations in bacterial regulatory genes are linked with chronic ash tree infections

This study identifies mutations in regulatory genes of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. fraxini strains associated with chronic ash tree infections and phenotypic diversity.

The virulence gene ToxB is both amplified and disrupted by transposons in the wheat pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis

This study identifies transposons as drivers of ToxB gene amplification and disruption in the wheat pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, explaining its virulence dosage effect.

Sanctuary: A Starship transposon facilitating the movement of the virulence factor ToxA in fungal wheat pathogens

The paper identifies a mobile genetic element, Sanctuary, that facilitates horizontal transfer of the virulence gene ToxA among wheat-infecting fungal pathogens.

Revisiting the evolution and function of NIP2 parologs in the Rhynchosporium spp. complex

This study examines the evolution and function of NIP2 paralogs in Rhynchosporium commune, showing their genomic distribution, expression during infection, and potential virulence roles.

A thousand-genome panel retraces the global spread and climatic adaptation of a major crop pathogen

The paper analyzes a thousand-genome panel of Zymoseptoria tritici to trace its global spread and identify genetic changes associated with climatic adaptation.

Dissecting the Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (tan spot of wheat) pangenome

This paper analyzes the pangenome of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis using genomic data from 40 isolates to reveal structural variations and effector gene dynamics.

Multi-stage resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici revealed by GWAS in an Australian bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) diversity panel

A GWAS study identifies three new QTLs associated with seedling-stage resistance, adult-plant stage resistance, and multi-stage resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici in an Australian wheat diversity panel.

Transposon mediated horizontal transfer of the host-specific virulence protein ToxA between three fungal wheat pathogens

The paper identifies a horizontally transferred 14kb genomic element containing the virulence gene ToxA among three fungal wheat pathogens, revealing transposon-mediated transfer and decay processes.

Acquisition and loss of secondary metabolite clusters shaped the evolutionary path of three recently emerged phytopathogens of wheat

This study identifies secondary metabolite clusters in three wheat pathogens, showing horizontal gene acquisition and loss linked to host adaptation.