Malitha Dickwella Widanage

Dr. Malitha Dickwella Widanage


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 March 2024 in Journal of Fungi
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IGIsha Gautam
Isha Gautam
KSKalpana Singh
Kalpana Singh
MWMalitha Dickwella Widanage
Malitha Dickwella Widanage
JYJayasubba Reddy Yarava
Jayasubba Reddy Yarava
TWTuo Wang
Tuo Wang
The fungal cell wall plays a critical role in regulating cellular integrity and communication, and serves as a frontline defense against stress. It is also a prime target for the development of antifungal agents. The cell wall is comprised of diverse polysaccharides and proteins and poses a challenging target for high-resolution structural characterization. Recently, the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) analysis of intact Aspergillus fumigatus cells has provided atomic-level insights into the structural polymorphism and functional assembly principles of carbohydrate components within the cell wall. This physical perspective, alongside structural information from biochemical assays, offers a renewed understanding of the cell wall as a highly complex and dynamic organelle. Here, we summarize key conceptual advancements in the structural elucidation of A. fumigatus mycelial and conidial cell walls and their responses to stressors. We also highlight underexplored areas and discuss the opportunities facilitated by technical advancements in ssNMR spectroscopy.