Peering Into Pir Protein Function and Comparative Genomics of the Pir Family.

The fungal cell wall, comprised primarily of protein and polymeric carbohydrate, maintains cell structure, provides protection from the environment, and is an important antifungal drug target. Pir proteins (proteins with internal repeats) are linked to cell wall β-1,3-glucan and are best studied in . Sequential deletion of genes produces strains with increasingly notable cell wall damage.

Using Genomics to Shape the Definition of the Agglutinin-Like Sequence () Family in the Saccharomycetales.

The agglutinin-like sequence () family is studied because of its contribution to cell adhesion, fungal colonization, and polymicrobial biofilm formation. The goal of this work was to derive an accurate census and sequence for genes in pathogenic yeasts and other closely related species, while probing the boundaries of the family within the Order Saccharomycetales. Bioinformatic methods were combined with laboratory experimentation to characterize 47 novel loci from 8 fungal species.