What do you investigate? Metabolic diversity in yeasts
What did you want to be as a kid? An optometrist
When did you become interested in a career in science? When I was in my second year of my undergraduate degree at the University of Northern British Columbia I was first exposed to a research lab. This was a molecular ecology lab where I did my first DNA extraction, my first PCR, and my first agarose gel! I had no idea that this was a career option before then.
How did you end up at UW-Madison? I saw an ad for a post doc position in the Hittinger lab and got really excited about the work being done in the lab, particularly on genomics of the budding yeast subphylum. It was very clear to me that this amazing resource would allow exploration of yeast diversity and discovery of novel biology.
What is your favorite thing about Madison? The commuter paths make it really safe and accessible to bike around Madison. I love biking around especially in the autumn.
Where do you see yourself in ten years? I would love to be leading my own research group studying yeast biology. I’ve gained a huge appreciation for the non-conventional yeasts because I think there’s so much novel biology to learn through studying them and this is something I would love to continue to pursue.
What are your hobbies? I love biking, cooking, gardening, and playing my ukulele.
What do you like to cook? I love trying new recipes from different cuisines, but lately I have been trying to perfect my pizza crust!
Publications
Horianopoulos LC, Lee CW, Schmitt K, Valerius O, Hu G, Caza M, Braus GH, Kronstad JW. (2021) A J Domain Protein Functions as a Histone Chaperone to Maintain Genome Integrity and the Response to DNA Damage in a Human Fungal Pathogen. mbio. 12(6):e03273-21.
Hu G, Bakkeren E, Caza M, Horianopoulos L, Sánchez‐León E, Sorensen M, Jung W, Kronstad JW. (2021) Vam6/Vps39/TRAP1‐domain proteins influence vacuolar morphology, iron acquisition and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Cellular microbiology, e13400.
Hu G, Horianopoulos L, Sánchez-León E, Caza M, Jung, W, Kronstad JW. (2021) The monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 influences thermotolerance, cell wall integrity and Mpk1 signaling in Cryptococcus neoformans. G3 Genes| Genomes| Genetics. jkab322. doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkab322
Horianopoulos LC, Lee CWJ, Hu G, Caza M, Kronstad JW. (2021) Dnj1 promotes virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans by maintaining robust endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis under temperature stress. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12:727039. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.727039
Black B, Lee C, Horianopoulos LC, Jung WH, Kronstad JW. (2021) Respiring to infect: Emerging links between mitochondria, the electron transport chain, and fungal pathogenesis. PLoS Pathogens. 17(7):e1009661. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1009661
Horianopoulos LC, Kronstad JW. (2021) Chaperone Networks in Fungal Pathogens of Humans. Journal of Fungi. 7(3), 209. doi:10.3390/jof7030209
Horianopoulos LC, Gluck-Thaler E, Benoit Gelber I, et al. (2021) The Canadian Fungal Research Network: current challenges and future opportunities. Can J Microbiol. 67(1)13-22. doi:10.1139/cjm-2020-0263
Horianopoulos LC, Hu G, Caza M, Schmitt K, Overby P, Johnson JD, Valerius O, Braus GH, Kronstad JW. (2020). The Novel J-Domain Protein Mrj1 is Required for Mitochondrial Respiration and Virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio. 11(3). doi:10.1128/mBio.01127-20
Choi Y, Do E, Hu G, Caza M, Horianopoulos LC, Kronstad JW, Jung WH. (2020) Involvement of Mrs3/4 in mitochondrial iron transport and metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 30(8):1142-1148. doi:10.4014/jmb.2004.04041
Horianopoulos LC, Kronstad JW. (2019) Connecting iron regulation and mitochondrial function in Cryptococcus neoformans. Current Opinions in Microbiology, 52:7-13. doi:10.1016/j.mib.2019.04.002
Bairwa G, Caza M, Horianopoulos L, Hu G, Kronstad J. (2018) Role of clathrin‐mediated endocytosis in the use of heme and hemoglobin by the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Cellular microbiology. 3:e12961. doi:10.1111/cmi.12961
Ding H, Caza M, Dong Y, Arif AA, Horianopoulos LC, Hu G, Johnson P, Kronstad JW. (2018) ATG genes influence the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans through contributions beyond core autophagy functions. Infection and immunity. 86(9):e00069-18. doi:10.1128/IAI.00069-18
Horianopoulos LC, Boone CK, Samarasekera GG, Kandola GK, Murray BW. (2018) Selection of the sex‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis in mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) driven by enhanced expression during early overwintering. Ecology and Evolution. 8(12):6253-6264. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4164
Cho M, Hu G, Caza M., Horianopoulos LC, Kronstad JW, Jung WH. (2018) Vacuolar zinc transporter Zrc1 is required for detoxification of excess intracellular zinc in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Journal of Microbiology. 56(1):65-71. doi: 10.1007/s12275-018-7475-y
McCotter SW, Horianopoulos LC, Kronstad JW. (2016) Regulation of the fungal secretome. Current Genetics. 62(3):533-45. doi:10.1007/s00294-016-0578-2