Fungal Infections and Studies

Systematic analysis reveals an Mln1-dependent trade-off between metabolic flexibility and thermotolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies Mln1 as a regulator of metabolic flexibility and thermotolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing a trade-off between nutrient utilization and stress resistance.

A convergent proline biosynthetic step couples cell wall integrity to virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies Pro3 as a key enzyme linking proline biosynthesis to cell wall integrity in Cryptococcus neoformans, showing its critical role in virulence and growth.

The pangenome of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans reveals that subtelomeres are hotspots for gene content variation

This study constructs a pangenome of Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing subtelomeres as hotspots for gene content variation and suggesting horizontal gene transfer.

Genetics and genomics of enteroarthroconidial development in Coccidioides

This study uses single-cell RNA-seq and genetic approaches to identify a role for pyropoptosis-like cell death in enteroarthroconidial development in Coccidioides.

Neutrophils Restrain CCR2-Dependent Monocyte Immunopathology During Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.

This study shows that neutrophils protect against cryptococcosis by limiting CCR2-dependent monocyte-driven immunopathology, even without affecting fungal burden.

Development of an HK-fbp1-based vaccine platform against Cryptococcus neoformans

This study develops and evaluates an HK-fbp1-based vaccine platform against Cryptococcus neoformans, showing superior protection compared to HK-H99 in multiple immunization settings.

Population structure of human-infecting and environmental isolates of Coccidioides immitis, the fungus causing Valley fever

The paper analyzes genetic structure and diversity of Coccidioides immitis in environmental and human isolates to understand disease transmission and environmental distribution.

Host Metabolic Reprogramming Defines Macrophage Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper investigates how metabolic reprogramming in macrophages affects antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, finding that glycolytic metabolism is enhanced in antifungal cells while mitochondrial and anabolic pathways are reduced.

Streptomyces induces unisexual reproduction of a major human fungal pathogen

This study shows that tunicamycin from Streptomyces induces unisexual reproduction in Cryptococcus species through meiotic processes and developmental reprogramming.

The protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit Pph22 partners with Tap42 and Rrd2 to control viability and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper identifies Pph22, Tap42, and Rrd2 as components of the protein phosphatase 2A complex in Cryptococcus neoformans, showing their roles in stress response, virulence, and morphogenesis.

Rapid whole genome- and annotation-based multilocus sequence typing of the fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum

This paper develops and validates genome-based MLST typing for Histoplasma capsulatum using 406 genome assemblies, achieving lineage separation with >8,000 markers.

Mapping virulence-associated protein interaction networks reveals regulators of thermotolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper maps virulence-associated protein interaction networks in Cryptococcus neoformans to identify regulators of thermotolerance, revealing two novel proteins involved in heat-shock protein interactions.

Set202 is a histone lysine methyltransferase that enables Cryptococcus neoformans to adapt to the host environment

This paper identifies Set202 as a histone methyltransferase in Cryptococcus neoformans that enables adaptation to host conditions by modifying gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms.

Systematic Profiling of Essential Fungal Transcriptional Regulators Uncovers Ezt1 as a Central Pathobiological and Morphogenic Regulator in Cryptococcus neoformans

The paper identifies essential transcriptional regulators in Cryptococcus neoformans, highlighting Ezt1 as a key regulator of growth, drug response, and virulence.

Genomic hallmarks of parasexual reproduction in three hybrid groups of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies three hybrid groups in Cryptococcus neoformans with genomic features indicative of parasexual reproduction, including LOH, aneuploidy, and haploid recombinants.

Yck2 links mitochondrial function and pH homeostasis to cell wall remodeling and antifungal susceptibility in Cryptococcus neoformans

This study identifies Yck2's role in linking mitochondrial function, pH homeostasis, and cell wall remodeling in Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing mechanisms behind its impact on antifungal susceptibility.

The common evolution of fungicide persistence in cryptococcosis patients

The paper identifies common evolutionary events leading to fungicide persistence in Cryptococcus neoformans clinical isolates and shows ACO2 deficiency as a key predictor of high persistence.

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.

Novel cell wall-associated genes that enable Cryptococcus neoformans to evade dectin-1-mediated innate immune recognition.

This study identifies novel cell wall-associated genes in Cryptococcus neoformans that mask β-1,3-glucan and enable evasion of dectin-1 immune recognition.

A Tenebrio molitor model for Talaromyces marneffei infection and the importance of host cues for dimorphic switching

This study uses Tenebrio molitor larvae to model Talaromyces marneffei infection, showing temperature and host environment influence dimorphic switching and pathogenicity.

Genetic and transcriptomic determinants of disseminated coccidioidomycosis identify a founder variant in NLRX1 and ancestry-specific rare variants in immune response genes

This study identifies genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with severe coccidioidomycosis, finding a founder variant in NLRX1 linked to African ancestry and increased disease risk.

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.

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.

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.