Keren Kaufman-Francis

TL;DR: It was shown that phagocytosis of Cn by non-interferon (IFN)-γ stimulated THP-1 cells was higher than that of Cg, and more Cn-loaded macrophages were transported across an intact HBEC monolayer, consistent with the predilection of CN for CNS infection.

TL;DR: D dissemination of infection and the pathogenesis of meningitis are dependent on cryptococcal phosphate uptake and stress tolerance at alkaline pH, both of which are Pho4 dependent.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated for the first time that the PVS of cortical post-capillary venules is the major site of the early innate immune response to, and phagocyte-dependent entry of, C. neoformans.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that interaction of the inositol pyrophosphate, IP7, with the CDK inhibitor protein, Pho81, is instrumental in promoting fungal virulence and provides novel mechanistic insight into the role of IP7 in PHO pathway regulation by demonstrating that IP7 functions as an intermolecular “glue” to stabilize Pho 81 association with Pho85/Pho80 and, hence, promotePHO pathway activation and phosphate acquisition.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that Bta1-dependent substitution of PC by betaine lipids is tightly regulated in C. neoformans by the PHO pathway, to conserve phosphate and preserve membrane integrity and function.