A5031079220- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Polyamine Metabolism and Applications
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses
University of Saskatchewan
2008-2018
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2007
University of Manitoba
2007
Brandon University
2006
Purdue University West Lafayette
1995-1998
York University
1986-1996
Western University
1984
University of Toronto
1982-1983
Many fishes possess specialized epidermal cells that are ruptured by the teeth of predators, thus reliably indicating presence an actively foraging predator. Understanding evolution these has intrigued evolutionary ecologists because release alarm chemicals is not voluntary. Here, we show predation pressure does influence cell production in fishes. Alarm stimulated exposure to skin-penetrating pathogens (water moulds: Saprolegnia ferax and parasitica), parasites (larval trematodes:...
Of the over 250 Aspergillus species, fumigatus accounts for up to 80% of invasive human infections. A. produces galactosaminogalactan (GAG), an exopolysaccharide composed galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) that mediates adherence is required full virulence. Less pathogenic species were found produce GAG with a lower GalNAc content than expressed minimal amounts cell wall-bound GAG. Increasing minimally nidulans, either through overexpression nidulans epimerase UgeB or by...
This is a compendium of protocols for using Aspergillus nidulans in genetic, molecular, and cell biological investigations, originally written members my research group. It also summarizes our common growth media nutritional supplements, many which appeared elsewhere but now are difficult to locate. All solutions, tools, etc. assumed be sterile. water should sterile distilled or equivalent. Temperatures °C. Strains available from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center (http://www.fgsc.net/).
ABSTRACT Saprolegnia ferax contains an integrin homologue, identified by crossreactivity with antiserum to the consensus sequence of human/chick/Xenopus cytoplasmic domain β1-integrin, which is highly conserved. In non-reduced samples, this was larger than reported size range for β1-integrins, at 178 kDa. reduced there a reducing agent-concentration-dependent conversion from kDa 120 kDa, well within β1-integrins in other organisms. The stained plasma membrane-associated patches, had shallow...
ABSTRACT The distribution of organelles and microtubules in hyphal tips the oomycete, Saprolegnia feras, were quantitatively determined at high resolution from serial-section electron microscopy freeze-substituted cells. All non-uniformly distributed, each showing a characteristic longitudinal gradient starting different point behind tip. In addition, when cytoplasmic cross-sectional area was divided into radial regions, all occurred preferentially either central (mitochondria Golgi bodies)...
The biotrophic powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis releases extracellular materials to the surface of fungal infection structures that facilitate anchoring them hydrophobic plant surfaces prior infection; however, chemistry adhesives and mechanism adhesion remain largely unclear. Expressed sequence tag analysis led identification a secreted lipase, Lip1, from B. graminis. Expression LIP1 is dramatically upregulated during early stages development. cell walls, possesses lipolytic activity...
This study reports the first direct, high-resolution physical and structural evidence of wall changes during hyphal tip growth, visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in Aspergillus nidulans . Images from AFM cryo-scanning electron provided comparable information, but was also able to image physically probe living cells. images showed surface ultrastructure A. hyphae, newly deposited walls at tips fully mature walls, as well additional young branches arising walls. Surface architecture...
A cDNA library was constructed from leaf epidermis of diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum) infected with the powdery mildew fungus (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) and screened for genes encoding peroxidases. From 2,500 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 36 cDNAs representing 10 peroxidase (designated TmPRX1 to TmPRX10) were isolated further characterized. Alignment deduced amino acid sequences phylogenetic clustering peroxidases other plant species demonstrated that these fall into four...
Cell walls are essential for fungal survival and growth. Fungal ∼ 90% carbohydrate, mostly types not found in humans, making them promising targets anti-fungal drug development. Echinocandins, which inhibit the β-glucan synthase, already clinically available. In contrast, α-glucan, another abundant cell wall component has attracted relatively little research attention because it is most fungi. Aspergillus nidulans two α-glucan synthases (AgsA AgsB) α-amylases (AmyD AmyG), all of affect...
Abstract Aspergillus nidulans grows by apical extension of multinucleate cells called hyphae that are subdivided the insertion crosswalls septa. Apical vary in length and number nuclei, whereas subapical typically 40 μm long with three to four nuclei. have active mitotic cycles, arrested for growth mitosis until branch formation reinitiates tip nuclear divisions. This multicellular pattern requires coordination between localized growth, division, septation. We searched a...
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an emerging technique in biomolecular analysis that can have a tremendous impact the life sciences. We report on SERS imaging of fungal hyphae grown nanostructured active substrates engineered using semiconductor technologies. Time fluctuations intensity and band position spectra measured same sample with 1 s integration time been observed indicating signal arises from limited number molecules possibly single components are being detected.
The fungal wall mediates cell-environment interactions. Galactofuranose (Galf), the five-member ring form of galactose, has a relatively low abundance in Aspergillus walls yet is important for growth and fitness. nidulans strains deleted Galf biosynthesis enzymes UgeA (UDP-glucose-4-epimerase) UgmA (UDP-galactopyranose mutase) lacked immunolocalizable Galf, had sporulation defects, abnormal architecture. We used atomic force microscopy spectroscopy to image quantify cell viscoelasticity...
Cell-cell fusion is a fundamental process that facilitates wide variety of biological events in organisms ranging from yeast to humans. However, relatively little actually understood with respect mechanisms. In the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mating opposite-type cells triggered by pheromone activation G protein-coupled receptors, alpha-factor receptor (Ste2p) and a-factor (Ste3p), leading mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, growth arrest, cellular events. Herein we now...
The G(1)/S transition is a critical control point for cell proliferation and involves essential transcription complexes termed SBF MBF in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, regulation not clear. To gain more insight into circuitry, we characterized Swi6p, Swi4p Mbp1p, closest orthologues of (Swi6p Swi4p) Mbp1p) components S. cerevisiae. mbp1Δ/Δ cells showed minor growth defects, whereas swi4Δ/Δ swi6Δ/Δ yeast dramatically increased...