R. Garcia-Rodas

Two distinct lipid transporters together regulate invasive filamentous growth in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

This study identifies two lipid transporters, Drs2 and Osh4, that regulate invasive filamentous growth in C. albicans via PI(4)P, with Drs2 having additional roles in plasma membrane organization.

Pharmacological inhibition of titan-like cells formation suggests that accumulation of endogenous free radicals that correlate with mitochondrial changes are required to induce this transition in Cryptococcus neoformans

This paper identifies compounds that inhibit titan-like cell formation in Cryptococcus neoformans, suggesting that endogenous ROS and mitochondrial changes are critical for this process.

Plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate is not necessary for Candida albicans viability, yet is key for cell wall integrity and systemic infection

This study shows plasma membrane PI(4)P is not essential for Candida albicans viability but is critical for filamentation, cell wall integrity, and virulence in systemic infections.