Departmental Affiliations
Rosanna Baker, MSc, studies the interdependent regulation of multiple virulence factors expressed by the fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans.
Research Interests
Cryptococcus neoformans; fungal melanin; polysaccharide capsule; urease-produced ammonia; host-pathogen interactions
Experiences & Accomplishments
Select Publications
Baker RP, Liu AZ and Casadevall A (2024). Cell wall melanin impedes growth of the Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide capsule by sequestering calcium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 121(38):e2412534121
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39259590Baker RP, Schachter M, Phillips S, Kandiah S, Farrque M, Casadevall A and Kandiah PA (2024). Host and fungal factors both contribute to cryptococcosis-associated hyperammonemia (cryptammonia). Microbiol Spectr. 12(7):e0390223
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38842310Baker RP and Casadevall A (2023). Reciprocal modulation of ammonia and melanin production has implications for cryptococcal virulence. Nat Commun. 14(1):849.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36792633Baker RP, Chrissian C, Stark RE and Casadevall A (2022). Cryptococcus neoformans melanization incorporates multiple catecholamines to produce polytypic melanin. J Biol Chem. 298(1):101519.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34942148