My lab works with the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum and rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae on the regulation of infection-related morphogenesis and fungal-plant interactions.  We have identified and characterized various components of the cAMP-PKA and MAP kinase pathways that are involved in the regulation of surface sensing, infection structure formation, penetration, invasive growth, and sporulation.  By systematic characterization of the predicted protein kinase and G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) genes, we have identified novel kinases and GPCRs that play critical roles in regulating pathogenesis and sexual development. 

Although fungi lack ADAR enzymes responsible for mRNA editing in animals, genome-wide A-to-I RNA editing occurs specifically during sexual reproduction in filamentous ascomycetes.  We have identified genetic mutations that affect RNA editing and ascosporogenesis but not vegetative growth or asexual reproduction.  Furthermore, we have showed that RNA editing is functionally related to other sexual stage-specific genetic and phylogenetic phenomena.  My lab also works on the regulation of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis by different signaling pathways, nitrogen metabolism, and epigenetic elements.