Fungal Infections and Studies

Calcium triggers Cryptococcus neoformans aggregation by forming coordination bonds with capsular glucuronoxylomannan

This paper investigates how calcium triggers Cryptococcus neoformans aggregation through coordination bonds with glucuronoxylomannan, revealing its role in capsule structure and host interaction.

Cryptococcus neoformans rewires the conserved Wee1-CDK checkpoint through two divergent kinases required for replication-stress tolerance and virulence

This study identifies two divergent Wee1-family kinases in Cryptococcus neoformans that function in a dosage-sensitive checkpoint to promote stress adaptation and virulence.

Stochasticity and Bet Hedging Drive Cryptococcal Capsule Dynamics

This study shows Cryptococcus spp. exhibit stochastic capsule size dynamics, with a bet hedging strategy that balances stress resistance and growth rate.

Using the Collaborative Cross to Dissect Immunological Mechanisms Governing Latent Infection, Granuloma Formation, and Neuroinvasive Disease Following Repeated Very Low-Dose Inhalation Exposure to Cryptococcus

This study uses a repeated low-dose inhalation model in genetically diverse mice to show that pulmonary immune responses influence granuloma formation and neuroinvasive disease in cryptococcal infection.

Lipid Flippase Mediated Membrane Asymmetry Governs Extracellular Vesicles Biogenesis and Host Interactions in Cryptococcus neoformans

This study shows that Cdc50, a lipid flippase regulatory subunit in Cryptococcus neoformans, controls membrane lipid homeostasis, extracellular vesicle biogenesis, and macrophage interactions, with loss of Cdc50 increasing phagocytosis and susceptibility to macrophage killing.

Variable ectopic heterochromatin islands provide an alternative route to antifungal heteroresistance in Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies transient heterochromatin islands in Cryptococcus neoformans that contribute to fluconazole heteroresistance, distinct from aneuploidy.

TREM2 drives monocyte-derived macrophage responses to Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies TREM2 as a DAP12-associated receptor that inhibits macrophage antifungal responses to Cryptococcus neoformans by reducing fungal uptake and M1 polarization.

A cysteine-rich domain of the Cryptococcus neoformans Cuf1 transcription factor is required for high copper stress sensing and fungal virulence

This paper identifies a cysteine-rich motif in CnCuf1 essential for high copper stress sensing in Cryptococcus neoformans, impacting fungal virulence and lung infection patterns.

Systematic Infectome-Phenome Profiling Reveals Cryptococcal Infection-Associated Proteins Driving Immune System Remodeling and Immunization Potential

This study identifies fungal proteins involved in immune system remodeling and immunization potential using a combined proteomics and phenotyping approach in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Meiosis-specific genes play roles in ploidy reduction in Cryptococcus neoformans titan cells

This study identifies meiosis-specific genes critical for ploidy reduction in Cryptococcus neoformans titan cells, showing their role in generating stable diploid daughter cells.

Cryptococcus gattii responds to mycobacterial exposure through coordinated remodelling of population dynamics and cell surface architecture, enhancing pulmonary persistence in a co-infection model

This study shows that Cryptococcus gattii adapts to mycobacterial exposure by altering its structure and increasing pulmonary persistence in a co-infection model.

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.

Systematic profiling of WD40 proteins reveals Wcp1, a cyclophilin linking CO2/heat tolerance to acidic pH adaptation in Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper identifies Wcp1, a WD40 protein with cyclophilin domains, as essential for CO2/heat tolerance and acidic pH adaptation in Cryptococcus neoformans, linking these functions to virulence.

Fluorescent organelle markers in Cryptococcus neoformans: a versatile toolkit for live-cell subcellular localization

The paper develops a toolkit of fluorescent organelle markers in Cryptococcus neoformans to study subcellular localization and remodeling under various conditions and during sexual development.

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.

A SuperSelective primer-based real-time PCR Platform for hypersensitive detection of azole heteroresistance in Cryptococcus neoformans

This paper develops a SSP-PCR platform for ultrasensitive detection of azole resistance-associated SNPs in Cryptococcus neoformans, demonstrating high specificity and multiplex detection capabilities.

Predicting Valley Fever Outbreaks: Novel Mechanistic Models Incorporating Climate and Ecological Interactions

This paper develops mechanistic ODE models to predict Valley fever outbreaks by integrating climate and ecological factors, showing improved forecasting over statistical models when including wildlife reservoirs.

Molecular Architecture of Cryptococcus Cell Walls Reveals Species-Specific Chitosan-Dependent Remodeling

This study examines the structural role of chitosan in Cryptococcus cell walls, revealing species-specific remodeling effects when chitosan is absent.

A structure-guided pipeline yields peptide inhibitors that disarm fungal peptidase-driven virulence and resistance

The paper designs peptide inhibitors targeting fungal peptidases to reduce virulence and resistance without harming host cells, showing efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

GM-CSF orchestrates monocyte and granulocyte responses to Cryptococcus gattii

This study shows GM-CSF promotes harmful immune responses to C. gattii by facilitating macrophage and eosinophil activity while blocking neutrophil entry, leading to increased fungal burden and lung damage.

Alternatively activated monocyte-derived myeloid cells promote extracellular pathogen persistence within pulmonary fungal granulomas.

This study identifies alternatively activated myeloid cells as drivers of extracellular fungal persistence in pulmonary granulomas through T helper 2 cell signaling.

Discovery of Novel Ligands for Cryptococcus neoformans

This study develops and evaluates novel 3-hydroxypyridin-4(1H)-one hybrids as antifungal agents against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, showing potent and selective activity with low toxicity.

An Inositol Receptor Orchestrates Carbon Utilization and Fungal Virulence

This study identifies Itr4, a novel inositol transceptor in Cryptococcus neoformans, which regulates inositol and glucose metabolism and fungal virulence.

Metabolic control of mitochondrial plasticity and extracellular vesicle biology drives Cryptococcus neoformans virulence

This study identifies metabolic stress integration as a central mechanism driving virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans by linking glucose limitation to mitochondrial plasticity and extracellular vesicle biology.

An ancient gene duplication is implicated in virulence in the human pathogen, Histoplasma

The paper identifies two new -amylase genes in Histoplasma and shows their roles in -glucan biosynthesis and virulence, revealing ancient gene duplications.

Cryptococcus neoformans responds to presence of mycobacterium by diversifying its morphologies and remodelling its capsular material

This study shows that Cryptococcus neoformans changes its morphology and capsule when exposed to mycobacteria, potentially worsening co-infection outcomes.

Dermatomycosis associated with Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in a breeding colony of gecko (Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus auriculatus).

This paper reports a fatal outbreak of Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in geckos linked to a breeding colony after introducing an infected gecko from overseas.

Metabolic plasticity and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans are regulated by mitochondrial homeostasis

This study shows that mitochondrial homeostasis in Cryptococcus neoformans affects metabolic plasticity and virulence through the PKA pathway.

Organ-specific immune responses are strain-dependent in a mouse model of Cryptococcus neoformans brain infection

This study examines how different Cryptococcus neoformans strains affect organ-specific immune responses in a mouse model of cryptococcal meningitis, finding strain-dependent effects independent of virulence.

The Amt2 Gene is Key for Cryptococcus neoformans Transmigration Across The Blood-Brain Barrier and Closely Linked to Its Capsule Formation

This study identifies the Amt2 gene's role in Cryptococcus neoformans transmigration across the blood-brain barrier and its link to capsule formation, without affecting endothelial cell damage.