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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · 12d

We just published new selectable markers for C. neoformans, bringing the total up to 7. All in CRiSPR-Cas9 compatible plasmids.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

CRISPR/Cas9-compatible plasmids enabling seven dominant genetic selection methods for the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans | Microbiology Spectrum

Cryptococcus neoformans is the top-ranked World Health Organization priority fungal pathogen due to its widespread distribution and inadequate treatment options. Additionally, as a basidiomycete yeast...

journals.asm.org

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · 12d

Plasmids for selection with phleomycin (BLE marker); phosphite prototrophy (ptxD marker) and blasticidin S (BSD or BSR markers) are available @addgene.bsky.social

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · 12d

Small side-project from my postdoctoral work with @hitenmadhani.bsky.social. We found that blasticidin S can select for Cryptococcus transformants, and made CRISPR-compatible plasmids for other existing markers. Now 7 dominant genetic selection methods in total!

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

CRISPR/Cas9-compatible plasmids enabling seven dominant genetic selection methods for the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans | Microbiology Spectrum

Cryptococcus neoformans is the top-ranked World Health Organization priority fungal pathogen due to its widespread distribution and inadequate treatment options. Additionally, as a basidiomycete yeast...

journals.asm.org

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Wellcome Trust @wellcometrust.bsky.social · Aug 19

Leishmaniasis is 95% fatal if untreated — yet it’s still overlooked, and media coverage is low.

Our new report shows what gets decision-makers to pay attention ⤵️
wellcomeopenresearch.org/documents/10...

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · Aug 15

New in #G3journal: @hitenmadhani.bsky.social and the team present new methods and strains for high-efficiency homology-dependent genome editing in Cryptococcus neoformans, a budding #yeast that is the most common cause of fungal meningitis in humans.

Read more: buff.ly/dQRKrOJ

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Aug 14

New PI day 1!

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · Aug 11

🍄Mark your calendars for March 17-22, 2026 for #Fungal26! Registration will open October 25, 2025. We can’t wait to see you at Asilomar in absolutely beautiful Pacific Grove, California. Start planning today!

🔗Stay updated on all the important information at buff.ly/BjAlE2j.

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Jul 24

Our work to functionally map the Cryptococcus genome is now "officially" out in Cell!

Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · Jul 24

In today's issue of Cell-->if you are looking for a good distraction from the news (who isn't), check it out!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

Phenotypic landscape of an invasive fungal pathogen reveals its unique biology

The construction and high-precision fitness profiling of a C. neoformans knockout library reveals a high-resolution functional map of its genome and allowed for the identification of fungal analogs of...

www.cell.com

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Jul 19

Someone's settled in for her cross-country road trip

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Jason Nomburg @jnoms.bsky.social · Jun 12

Hello everyone! I am pleased to share information on the first ever Computational Structural Virology Symposium, conducted August 4th on zoom and highlighting work in this emerging field. You can register for this event here: forms.gle/CNiqskMwQEuV.... Please re-post!

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Jun 11

Share link to access article here:

authors.elsevier.com/c/1lFMiL7PXu...

authors.elsevier.com

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Jun 11

My postdoctoral work with @hitenmadhani.bsky.social is now online at @cp-cell.bsky.social! We profiled the fitness of >4300 Cryptococcus neoformans deletion strains in >140 conditions, identifying unexpected mammalian-like biology and drivers of fungal pathogenesis.

www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

Phenotypic landscape of an invasive fungal pathogen reveals its unique biology

The construction and high-precision fitness profiling of a C. neoformans knockout library reveals a high-resolution functional map of its genome and allowed for the identification of fungal analogs of...

www.cell.com

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · Jun 5

#TheLastOfUs: A fungus that actually infects the human brain 🧠

A recent #G3journal paper from @hitenmadhani.bsky.social and team presents a valuable auxin-inducible genetic toolkit for conditional mutation in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, which can cause meningitis: buff.ly/rIkC09R

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · Jun 4

Warp speed genetics!

We have just published another methods paper, which demonstrates how to make short-homology genome edits in Cryptococcus neoformans with exceptionally high efficiency.

Kudos to Matt, Sanjita, and Manning!

academic.oup.com/g3journal/ar...

Near 100% efficient homology-dependent genome engineering in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract. We recently described CRISPR/Cas9-based short homology-dependent genome engineering in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, a haplo

academic.oup.com

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · Jun 4

Come join me as a new PI at the Wadsworth Center!

Siân Owen @sianowen.bsky.social · Jun 3

The Wadsworth Center is expanding it's research focus on #virology /vector-borne diseases!
www.asmcareerconnections.org/job/research-scientist-5-g-31/78488664/
This is a unicorn assistant prof equivalent position with 12-month hard money salary and no teaching commitments (!)
Reposts appreciated 🙏

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · May 22

Great to know, thanks!

Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · May 17

Thanks to @hitenmadhani.bsky.social and the many coauthors who made this work possible!

Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · May 17

Who knows what the future holds, but today we’ll celebrate acceptance of Mike’s epic Cell paper and with some Veuve Clicquot!
@michaelboucher.bsky.social

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · May 10

Thanks Felipe! Won't make it to CSHL, but maybe the GRC or Crypto meeting next year!

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Michael Boucher @mjboucher.bsky.social · May 9

Really excited to share that I'll start my research lab at the Wadsworth Center with the New York State Department of Health in August 2025! My group will use functional genomics to study how fungal pathogens have repurposed machinery from their environmental lifestyles for mammalian infection!

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Hiten Madhani @hitenmadhani.bsky.social · Apr 8

Our small but important technical advance for conditional mutation in Cryptococcus neoformans. Combined with some other technical advances (like 100% efficient HDR), this makes working on this yeast as easy as working on S. cerevisiae. tinyurl.com/yzhjr45u

An auxin-inducible degron system for conditional mutation in the fungal meningitis pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract. Cryptococcus neoformans is the top-ranked W.H.O. fungal priority pathogen, but tools for generating conditional mutations are limited. Auxin-indu

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Michael Boucher

Irene Beusch @pauletteoctopus.bsky.social · Dec 19

We have another opening for a fully funded #PhDposition in the Beusch lab (www.beuschlab.org) at the University of Würzburg! If you or someone you know is curious about #splicing, please apply or contact me for more information. (Official advertisement tba soon.) #RNAsky #RNAbiology

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