Population-Specific Transcriptomic Shifts Underlie Secondary Metabolic Diversification in Aspergillus flavus and the Domestication of Aspergillus oryzae https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.02.680074v1

Yes! It's an interesting species complex with lots more still to discover. We were surprised several times by the results of this project!

I was only part of this project, not the lead--it was actually led by my postdoc advisor Mickey Drott & our collaborator Denny Wang, who are not #OnHere. Other collaborators who ARE on here include @rokaslab.bsky.social @kellerlab.bsky.social & @gibbonsgenomics.bsky.social
Stay tuned for more!

Using isolates from both species, we saw population-specific transcriptomic differences due to a few transcription factors (notably missing pop. D isolates, as this was an earlier experiment).
Basically, it seems domestication was made possible through regulatory changes rather than genetic ones!

We also tested virulence in a zebrafish model. All the isolates were capable of causing disease, BUT isolates from population A were the most deadly.

The A. oryzae isolates were the *least* virulent, which is very good news for culinary enthusiasts.

We found evidence for multiple domestication events for A. oryzae (blue clades O1 and O2), & we saw that the A. oryzae isolates were interspersed in the newly defined population D, which has a LOT of clinical isolates--pretty weird and unexpected! 👀

If you saw my talk on the population structure of #Aspergillus flavus at Fungal Genetics in 2024, you might have heard someone ask "how does Aspergillus oryzae fit into the picture?"
If so, you heard my answer was "wait and see--we're working on this exact topic"
Well, the wait is over! Preprint ⬇️

We are honored to share that our work, led by @katarina-aranguiz.bsky.social and @linder-surprise.bsky.social, has been featured as a Science Highlight on the DOE's Office of Science website. 200 articles are selected annually to be highlighted. Check it out! 🧫
www.energy.gov/science/ber/...

You’ll now be able to get an updated coronavirus shot in every state without a prescription, according to the American Pharmacists Association.

CVS and Walgreens have stated you won’t need to attest to any underlying conditions and the questions will be removed from their online booking system.

What started as a project characterizing variation in metabolic rates across yeasts turned into an interesting story about convergent evolution acting on the same key genes through distinct molecular mechanisms with @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @rokaslab.bsky.social.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

If you are a current PRFB fellow, we have a slack where all of this and more is discussed.

Current fellows, please send me a message and I can add you.

Come work with us - The School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin is looking for a tenure track assistant professor in plant biodiversity and conservation 🧪🌏🌾 my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...

Drop me a message if you want to chat about what it's like to work here or live in Ireland.

This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important

I believe today is a “stop working at 4pm and bake cookies instead” sort of day

New research identifies unique features of phytopathogens by comparing genomes of several plant-pathogenic Saccharomycotina fungi strains.

Read more in #G3journal about metabolic enzymes that help destroy plant defenses: buff.ly/VrM2Yx6

Yellowstone is such a cool and interesting place! So glad you enjoyed your time there, and I look forward to reading about your results eventually!

The new #NSF #GRFP application now excludes 1000’s of students, including those who were told they could apply this year, or who planned to apply next year.

We have a new specific petition urging #NSFGRFP undo this harmful action. If you are impacted sign here: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

That bad, huh

Upcoming community sessions next week
carpentries.org/community/ev...
Events are in UTC Time :

📣 Workbench Transition Coworking
29 Sep 08:00 & 18:00

📣 US Midwest Community Call
1 Oct 17:00

📣 HPC Carpentry Community Call
2 Oct 11:00 & 21:00

📣 CarpentriesOffline Community Call
3 Oct 13:00

Ready to start MegaMicrobe 2025! Thanks to Owen and Jesse for leading the Skaar Lab booth with the ESKAPE band. 🎸🤘

@nnedi.bsky.social I feel like you’d appreciate this and the alt text

This only happens to you once

Such a pleasure to be involved with this short film, filmed and scripted by the amazingly talented @amykingwild.bsky.social.

Woods Mill is my local woodland managed by @sussexwildlife.bsky.social. Amy has captured it wonderfully - makes me want to go for an autumnal woodland scamper right now!