K. Tsai

Study of Impacts of Two Types of Cellular Aging on the Yeast Bud Morphogenesis

This study analyzes two aging modes in yeast, showing spherical budding cells better control growth and size, and develops a model to test mechanisms of bud morphogenesis during aging.

An autochthonous model of lung cancer in the Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

This study develops an endogenous lung cancer model in naked mole-rats, showing tumor initiation more closely resembles human tumors than in mice.

Structural basis for context-specific inhibition of translation by oxazolidinone antibiotics

This study determines cryo-EM structures of oxazolidinone antibiotics bound to stalled ribosomes, revealing how alanine at the penultimate position enables context-specific inhibition.

Directed evolution of the rRNA methylating enzyme Cfr reveals molecular basis of antibiotic resistance

This study uses directed evolution to identify Cfr variants that enhance rRNA methylation, revealing structural insights into antibiotic resistance mechanisms.

AN INULIN-TYPE FRUCTAN ENRICHED EXCLUSIVE ENTERAL NUTRITION FORMULA SUPPRESSES COLITIS THROUGH GUT MICROBIOME MODULATION AND PROMOTING EXPANSION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY T CELL SUBSETS

This paper shows that an inulin-type fructan-enriched enteral nutrition formula reduces colitis in mice by modulating the gut microbiome and increasing anti-inflammatory T cell subsets.

Role of combined cell membrane and wall mechanicalproperties regulated by polarity signals in cell budding

This paper develops a 3D model to study how mechanical properties and polarity signals regulate yeast bud formation.

Robust HIV-1 Replication in the Absence of Integrase Function.

This study shows HIV-1 can replicate robustly without integrase function in cells expressing HTLV-1 Tax, forming transcriptionally active episomal DNA circles that avoid epigenetic silencing.

Acetylation of cytidine residues boosts HIV-1 gene expression by increasing viral RNA stability

This study shows HIV-1 transcripts are acetylated at cytidine residues by NAT10, enhancing viral RNA stability and gene expression, suggesting ac4C as a potential antiviral target.

cfrB,cfrC, and a potential new cfr-like gene in Clostridium difficile strains recovered across Latin America

The paper identifies and characterizes cfr-like genes in C. difficile strains from Latin America, showing diversity and functional activity of Cfr(C) and a potential new cfr-like gene.

Enteric Pathogen Diversity in Infant Foods in Low-income Neighborhoods Of Kisumu, Kenya

This study examines enteric pathogen contamination in infant foods in low-income neighborhoods of Kisumu, Kenya, finding that cow milk is significantly more likely to contain pathogens than porridge.