Michelle Momany
@mcmomany.bsky.social
Fungal Biologist studying Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, antifungal resistance, septin cytoskeleton, septin evolution, and spore dormancy. Views expressed here are my own.
Pinned
Temperature during conidiophore development primes Aspergillus fumigatus spore transcriptome for asexual or sexual reproduction | mBio
The human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been found in natural and agricultural environments around the world. Disease
is acquired when susceptible individuals inhale airborne asexual spores from ...
journals.asm.org
We knew that A. fumigatus conidia were bigger when produced at 50C vs 37C. We never imagined that genes encoding master regulators of asexual & sexual development would be differentially expressed in conidiophores at each temp. New, surprising work from Momany lab. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Latest preprint from our group. We found the Bip1 transcription factor is phosphorylated in a Pmk1-dependent manner & with Mst12 co-regulates appressorium-specific functions, as well as acting on genes associated with invasive growth. @camilla-moli.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
A Pmk1-Regulated Mst12-Bip1 Network Coordinates Appressorium Function, Effector Deployment, and Invasive Growth by Magnaporthe oryzae
To cause rice blast disease, the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae develops a specialised infection cell called an appressorium, which generates enormous turgor to breach the rice leaf cuticle. Al...
www.biorxiv.org
September 14, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Latest preprint from our group. We found the Bip1 transcription factor is phosphorylated in a Pmk1-dependent manner & with Mst12 co-regulates appressorium-specific functions, as well as acting on genes associated with invasive growth. @camilla-moli.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
September is for Septins!
#SeptforSeptins
Time for septin spice lattes... and submitting your septin paper to the MBoC Special Issue: Cell Biology of Septins
Still accepting papers @ascbiology.bsky.social
www.molbiolcell.org/cell-biology...
#SeptforSeptins
Time for septin spice lattes... and submitting your septin paper to the MBoC Special Issue: Cell Biology of Septins
Still accepting papers @ascbiology.bsky.social
www.molbiolcell.org/cell-biology...
Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC)
www.molbiolcell.org
September 15, 2026 at 11:15 AM
September is for Septins!
#SeptforSeptins
Time for septin spice lattes... and submitting your septin paper to the MBoC Special Issue: Cell Biology of Septins
Still accepting papers @ascbiology.bsky.social
www.molbiolcell.org/cell-biology...
#SeptforSeptins
Time for septin spice lattes... and submitting your septin paper to the MBoC Special Issue: Cell Biology of Septins
Still accepting papers @ascbiology.bsky.social
www.molbiolcell.org/cell-biology...
UGA Fungal Group 2026. Love these colleagues. They put the FUN in fungi!
September 11, 2026 at 3:23 PM
UGA Fungal Group 2026. Love these colleagues. They put the FUN in fungi!
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Two PhD positions in the Feldbrügge Lab at HHU Düsseldorf within nEXt-RNA:
🔬 DC1: Live-cell imaging of RNA transfer and function
📦 DC10: Mechanisms and applications of RNA delivery
RNA biology, fungi, extracellular vesicles and advanced imaging.
www.mikrobiologie.hhu.de/en/
🔬 DC1: Live-cell imaging of RNA transfer and function
📦 DC10: Mechanisms and applications of RNA delivery
RNA biology, fungi, extracellular vesicles and advanced imaging.
www.mikrobiologie.hhu.de/en/
September 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Two PhD positions in the Feldbrügge Lab at HHU Düsseldorf within nEXt-RNA:
🔬 DC1: Live-cell imaging of RNA transfer and function
📦 DC10: Mechanisms and applications of RNA delivery
RNA biology, fungi, extracellular vesicles and advanced imaging.
www.mikrobiologie.hhu.de/en/
🔬 DC1: Live-cell imaging of RNA transfer and function
📦 DC10: Mechanisms and applications of RNA delivery
RNA biology, fungi, extracellular vesicles and advanced imaging.
www.mikrobiologie.hhu.de/en/
We knew that A. fumigatus conidia were bigger when produced at 50C vs 37C. We never imagined that genes encoding master regulators of asexual & sexual development would be differentially expressed in conidiophores at each temp. New, surprising work from Momany lab. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Temperature during conidiophore development primes Aspergillus fumigatus spore transcriptome for asexual or sexual reproduction | mBio
The human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been found in natural and agricultural environments around the world. Disease
is acquired when susceptible individuals inhale airborne asexual spores from ...
journals.asm.org
September 1, 2026 at 10:29 PM
We knew that A. fumigatus conidia were bigger when produced at 50C vs 37C. We never imagined that genes encoding master regulators of asexual & sexual development would be differentially expressed in conidiophores at each temp. New, surprising work from Momany lab. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
I am thrilled to share that I have joined the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as an Assistant Professor as of today. The Yadav Lab will be part of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
#newPI #fungi #InfectiousDiseases
www.yadavlab.org
#newPI #fungi #InfectiousDiseases
www.yadavlab.org
Yadav Lab
www.yadavlab.org
September 1, 2026 at 10:52 AM
I am thrilled to share that I have joined the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as an Assistant Professor as of today. The Yadav Lab will be part of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
#newPI #fungi #InfectiousDiseases
www.yadavlab.org
#newPI #fungi #InfectiousDiseases
www.yadavlab.org
Reposted by Michelle Momany
You're probably already doing science advocacy — you just might not call it that. Our new commentary (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) makes the case that every scientist has a role, and that advocacy takes many forms. Find and embrace yours! @natcellbio.nature.com @vfarm15.bsky.social
Every scientist has a role in advocacy - Nature Cell Biology
In this Comment, we call on scientists to share their stories. Through casual conversation or prepared presentations, with images or essays, scientists can advocate for their research and reach taxpay...
www.nature.com
July 26, 2026 at 3:52 PM
You're probably already doing science advocacy — you just might not call it that. Our new commentary (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) makes the case that every scientist has a role, and that advocacy takes many forms. Find and embrace yours! @natcellbio.nature.com @vfarm15.bsky.social
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Reposted by Michelle Momany
PhD position in my group for entry in October 2026. Round 3 of the @nrpdtp.bsky.social BBSRC competition. Please RT👇
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
Vanishing Virulence: Investigating pathogenicity loss in a plant pathogenic fungus (TALBOT_S26DTP3) | Doctoral Training Partnership
What makes a plant killer lose its edge? This project will investigate why fungal pathogens lose virulence when they are grown in laboratory culture away from their host plant. Use cutting-edge…
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
July 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
PhD position in my group for entry in October 2026. Round 3 of the @nrpdtp.bsky.social BBSRC competition. Please RT👇
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/van...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
The mycobiont of the lichen Xanthoria parietina produces the siderophore ferrichrome which enables iron acquisition and nutrient exchange with its algal photobiont. Great collaboration with my group & @metalichen.bsky.social led by Hubertus Haas 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Siderophore production by the lichen fungus Xanthoria parietina supports its algal symbiont - Nature Communications
The mechanisms underlying the adaptation of lichens to nutrient-poor environments are poorly understood. Here, Happacher et al. show that a globally distributed lichen fungus produces an iron-scavengi...
www.nature.com
July 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The mycobiont of the lichen Xanthoria parietina produces the siderophore ferrichrome which enables iron acquisition and nutrient exchange with its algal photobiont. Great collaboration with my group & @metalichen.bsky.social led by Hubertus Haas 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
PhD project on Blast Fungus host pentration open in my #Proteomics group at @thesainsburylab.bsky.social for an October 2026 entry. Collaborative project with @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social. Deadline: 30th July. Open to Home Fee status applicants.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/inv...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/inv...
Investigating host penetration by the rice blast fungus (MENKE_S26DTP3) | Doctoral Training Partnership
MENKE_S26DTP3
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
July 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
PhD project on Blast Fungus host pentration open in my #Proteomics group at @thesainsburylab.bsky.social for an October 2026 entry. Collaborative project with @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social. Deadline: 30th July. Open to Home Fee status applicants.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/inv...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/inv...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
The WHO today published a new blueprint to help countries respond to the increasing burden of fungal disease and antifungal resistance – one of global health’s most underestimated and neglected threats.
www.who.int/news/item/30... @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social
www.who.int/news/item/30... @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social
New WHO report outlines critical steps to confront fungal disease and antifungal resistance
The World Health Organization (WHO) today published a new blueprint to help countries respond to the increasing burden of fungal disease and antifungal resistance – one of global health’s most underes...
www.who.int
July 1, 2026 at 12:14 PM
The WHO today published a new blueprint to help countries respond to the increasing burden of fungal disease and antifungal resistance – one of global health’s most underestimated and neglected threats.
www.who.int/news/item/30... @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social
www.who.int/news/item/30... @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Our new paper was, by definition, an adventure: stepping outside of our comfort zone, embracing the unknown, and engaging in activities where the outcome is uncertain. Includes discovery of a new species and working with a Native American tribe to name it… 🧵👇
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Comparative Analysis of Stress Adaptation in the Yeast Microbiome of Cactus
Yeasts and related fungi isolated from cacti or nearby non-cactus plants were characterized phenotypically and genomically, revealing differences that hint at modes of adaptation to the cactus host.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 23, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Our new paper was, by definition, an adventure: stepping outside of our comfort zone, embracing the unknown, and engaging in activities where the outcome is uncertain. Includes discovery of a new species and working with a Native American tribe to name it… 🧵👇
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Our newest review on septins as makers & breakers of membrane contacts in J Neurochem
Fun writing with new PhD grad (and FASEB Septin Conference A/V Assistant Extrordinaire) TJ Holt
Thanks @mcmurraylab.bsky.social @sergemostowylab.bsky.social for input.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Fun writing with new PhD grad (and FASEB Septin Conference A/V Assistant Extrordinaire) TJ Holt
Thanks @mcmurraylab.bsky.social @sergemostowylab.bsky.social for input.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Septins in the Middle—Makers and Breakers of Membrane Contact Sites
Septins are a family of GTP-binding proteins that assemble into heteromeric oligomers and polymers, associating with specific membrane domains and organelles according to their subunit composition. G...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Our newest review on septins as makers & breakers of membrane contacts in J Neurochem
Fun writing with new PhD grad (and FASEB Septin Conference A/V Assistant Extrordinaire) TJ Holt
Thanks @mcmurraylab.bsky.social @sergemostowylab.bsky.social for input.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Fun writing with new PhD grad (and FASEB Septin Conference A/V Assistant Extrordinaire) TJ Holt
Thanks @mcmurraylab.bsky.social @sergemostowylab.bsky.social for input.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Big surprise just out from our lab. Transcriptome from A. fumigatus conidiophore made at 50C is upregulated for MAT1-1. Why is this sexual master regulator up in asexual development? Maybe priming future progeny for survival?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Temperature during Aspergillus fumigatus conidiophore development primes spore transcriptome for asexual, parasexual or sexual development
Aspergillus fumigatus is a thermotolerant saprobe found in soils and plant debris worldwide and an important pathogen of humans causing two million deaths annually. A. fumigatus makes abundant asexual...
www.biorxiv.org
June 13, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Big surprise just out from our lab. Transcriptome from A. fumigatus conidiophore made at 50C is upregulated for MAT1-1. Why is this sexual master regulator up in asexual development? Maybe priming future progeny for survival?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Related: if you know a great undergrad interested in grad school (or if YOU are interested), & they'd like to work in fungal biology using population genomics to study pathogenicity and genome plasticity, please encourage them to reach out!
See annehatmaker.com/contact/ for more info on how
See annehatmaker.com/contact/ for more info on how
I shared on LinkedIn already, but I wanted to post here as well since I've got a different audience: I will be joining the Department of Plant Pathology at the @universityofga.bsky.social as an Assistant Professor on Aug 1!! I will keep studying #Aspergillus & #Fusarium that infect plants & humans 🥰
June 3, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Related: if you know a great undergrad interested in grad school (or if YOU are interested), & they'd like to work in fungal biology using population genomics to study pathogenicity and genome plasticity, please encourage them to reach out!
See annehatmaker.com/contact/ for more info on how
See annehatmaker.com/contact/ for more info on how
Reposted by Michelle Momany
So proud to see this story finally out!🎉 We added new data since our previous preprint—transgenic barley plants with an engineered immune receptor that fights off two fungal pathogens at once. Short 🧵 and link to the original preprint thread on X👇
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Molecular mimicry of a pathogen virulence target by a plant immune receptor
Plants and animals respond to pathogen attack by mounting innate immune responses that require intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins. These immune receptors detect pathog...
www.science.org
June 5, 2026 at 9:07 AM
So proud to see this story finally out!🎉 We added new data since our previous preprint—transgenic barley plants with an engineered immune receptor that fights off two fungal pathogens at once. Short 🧵 and link to the original preprint thread on X👇
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Peer-reviewed version of our study led by @aliceeseola.bsky.social first seen on @biorxiv-cellbio.bsky.social showing the exquisite level of control of organelle trafficking & autophagy exerted during plant infection by the blast fungus. Thanks to all co-authors.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Synchronous spatiotemporal control of autophagy and organelle trafficking is necessary for infection by Magnaporthe oryzae
The blast fungus forms a force-generating appressorium for plant infection. Eseola
et al. show how individual spore cells adopt distinct fates, trafficking organelles
to the appressorium or undergoing...
www.cell.com
June 4, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Peer-reviewed version of our study led by @aliceeseola.bsky.social first seen on @biorxiv-cellbio.bsky.social showing the exquisite level of control of organelle trafficking & autophagy exerted during plant infection by the blast fungus. Thanks to all co-authors.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Antifungal resistance is growing – will new treatments turn the tables? www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Antifungal resistance is growing – will new treatments turn the tables?
Trials of drugs to fight deadly resistant infections are advancing, but they might fall victim to overuse of agricultural fungicides just like their predecessors.
www.nature.com
May 14, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Antifungal resistance is growing – will new treatments turn the tables? www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Michelle Momany
It is no surprise that contamination leads to incorrect conclusions in population genetics studies. @audreykward.bsky.social, @mcmomany.bsky.social, @dbensasson.bsky.social caution that even low-level contamination has a greater impact on analyses than expected.
More in #G3journal: buff.ly/kYFXQfM
More in #G3journal: buff.ly/kYFXQfM
May 14, 2026 at 8:02 PM
It is no surprise that contamination leads to incorrect conclusions in population genetics studies. @audreykward.bsky.social, @mcmomany.bsky.social, @dbensasson.bsky.social caution that even low-level contamination has a greater impact on analyses than expected.
More in #G3journal: buff.ly/kYFXQfM
More in #G3journal: buff.ly/kYFXQfM
Reposted by Michelle Momany
The X-linked Septin6 strikes in the immune system!
X-linked SEPTIN6 deficiency as a novel cause of syndromic T cell deficiency !
X-linked SEPTIN6-related congenital neutropenia and B cell deficiency rupress.org/jhi/article/...
X-linked SEPTIN6-related congenital neutropenia and B cell deficiency rupress.org/jhi/article/...
X-linked SEPTIN6-related congenital neutropenia and B cell deficiency
Gunderman et al. share the second report of X-linked SEPTIN6-related disease in two brothers identified by SCID newborn screening. Findings include congeni
rupress.org
May 7, 2026 at 2:35 PM
The X-linked Septin6 strikes in the immune system!
Reposted by Michelle Momany
A new study from our group, led by Iris Eisermann, of the septin interactome during appressorium development, revealing many new interactors and significantly widening the biological function of septins in fungal pathogenesis. 👇
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social
A stage-resolved map of dynamic septin interactions required for infection by the rice blast fungus https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.02.716073v1
April 7, 2026 at 10:52 AM
A new study from our group, led by Iris Eisermann, of the septin interactome during appressorium development, revealing many new interactors and significantly widening the biological function of septins in fungal pathogenesis. 👇
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Really grateful to all co-authors who made this possible 🙏
Neha Sahu @mariselagarduno.bsky.social Paul Derbyshire @frankmenke.bsky.social Weibin Ma @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social
Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback! 🌱🍄
Neha Sahu @mariselagarduno.bsky.social Paul Derbyshire @frankmenke.bsky.social Weibin Ma @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social
Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback! 🌱🍄
April 7, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Really grateful to all co-authors who made this possible 🙏
Neha Sahu @mariselagarduno.bsky.social Paul Derbyshire @frankmenke.bsky.social Weibin Ma @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social
Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback! 🌱🍄
Neha Sahu @mariselagarduno.bsky.social Paul Derbyshire @frankmenke.bsky.social Weibin Ma @talbotlabtsl.bsky.social
Happy to hear any thoughts or feedback! 🌱🍄
Reposted by Michelle Momany
Consider this: In a nation with a population approaching 349 million, the participation of 8 million people means that more than one of every 50 U.S. residents joined a No Kings rally.
Stat seen on @usatoday.com
Stat seen on @usatoday.com
March 29, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Consider this: In a nation with a population approaching 349 million, the participation of 8 million people means that more than one of every 50 U.S. residents joined a No Kings rally.
Stat seen on @usatoday.com
Stat seen on @usatoday.com
Reposted by Michelle Momany
POV: You made history by joining the LARGEST protest in United States history! #NoKings
Use the energy’s from today’s historic day to meet your neighbors (if safe) and start a group chat on Signal. The most important resistance work is hyper localized 🤝
#WeSayNoKings
Use the energy’s from today’s historic day to meet your neighbors (if safe) and start a group chat on Signal. The most important resistance work is hyper localized 🤝
#WeSayNoKings
March 28, 2026 at 9:22 PM
POV: You made history by joining the LARGEST protest in United States history! #NoKings
Use the energy’s from today’s historic day to meet your neighbors (if safe) and start a group chat on Signal. The most important resistance work is hyper localized 🤝
#WeSayNoKings
Use the energy’s from today’s historic day to meet your neighbors (if safe) and start a group chat on Signal. The most important resistance work is hyper localized 🤝
#WeSayNoKings