Scholars@Duke
Rajendra Upadhya

Rajendra Upadhya

Assistant Research Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Scholarly Works - Preprints

Mitochondrial cardiolipin sequestration of caspofungin underlies Cryptococcus neoformans inherent resistance and may contribute to cardiotoxicity.

Preprint · January 20, 2026 Cryptococcus exhibits inherent resistance to the echinocandin, caspofungin, which inhibits the synthesis of (1,3)-β-D-glucan, a key component of the polysaccharide cell wall. The essential FKS1 gene encodes the catalytic subunit of (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthas ... Full text Link to item Cite

Cryptococcus neoformans Chitin Synthase 3 (Chs3) Plays a Critical Role in Dampening Host Inflammatory Responses

Preprint · 2019 ABSTRACT Cryptococcus neoformans infections are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among AIDS patients and the third most common invasive fungal infection in organ transplant recipients. One of the main interfaces between the fungus an ... Full text Cite

Chitosan biosynthesis and virulence in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii

Preprint · 2019 Cryptococcus gattii R265 is a hyper-virulent fungal strain responsible for the major outbreak of cryptococcosis in Vancouver Island of British Columbia in 1999. It differs significantly from C. neoformans in its natural environment, its preferred site in ... Full text Cite