Publications by authors named "J R Vasselli"

Introduction: is a basidiomycete fungus that can cause meningoencephalitis, especially in immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcus grows in many different media, although little attention has been paid to the role of growth conditions on the cryptococcal cell wall or on virulence.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how different media influenced the amount of chitin and chitosan in the cell wall, which in turn impacted the cell wall architecture and host response.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Filamentous fungi produce specialized cells called hyphae. These cells grow by polarized extension at their apex, which is maintained by the balance of endocytosis and exocytosis at the apex. Although endocytosis has been well characterized in other organisms, the details of endocytosis and its role in maintaining polarity during hyphal growth in filamentous fungi is comparatively sparsely studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Colletotrichum graminicola is an economically significant fungal pathogen of maize. The primary infective conidia of the fungus, falcate conidia, are splash-dispersed during rain events. The adhesion of the falcate conidia triggers germination and is required for the development of infection structures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The prevalence and increasing incidence of fungal infections globally is a significant worldwide health problem. Cryptococcosis, primarily caused by the pathogenic yeast , is responsible for approximately 181,000 estimated deaths annually. The scarcity of treatments and the increasing resistance to current therapeutics highlight the need for the development of antifungal agents which have novel mechanisms of action and are suitable for clinical use.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth digital applications (apps) permitted the delivery of health care to millions of individuals, including those with poor access to health services.

Aim: To review a body of evidence demonstrating that telehealth and mobile health (mHealth) apps can promote clinically meaningful weight loss, and thus hold potential to increase access to treatment and weight loss care for individuals suffering from obesity.

Results: Data from COVID-19 pandemic revealed that access to telehealth and mHealth remains a challenge for underserved communities that are disproportionately affected by obesity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF