Marco Dias Coelho

My research focuses on the genetic underpinnings of mating type identity and pathogenicity in fungi. It began with the identification of gene sets governing sexual reproduction in basidiomycete red-pigmented yeasts and has since expanded to the complex dynamics of mating-type chromosome evolution in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic Cryptococcus and Kwoniella species. Leveraging whole-genome analyses, my current work also aims to explore the evolutionary and ecological origins of fungal pathogens and to identify the distinct genetic traits that differentiate pathogenic from closely related non-pathogenic species. This research is pivotal for understanding the nuances of fungal reproductive biology and the mechanisms driving pathogen development and adaptation.