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Elena P. Bulgac, Ph.D.

Elena P. Bulgac, Ph.D.

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About Me

Faculty Appointments

Research Associate Prof (Part-Time) - Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD)

Credentials

Education

PhD | USSR - Non-Medical School. Genetics. 1974

MS | USSR - Non-Medical School. Genetics. 1971

Research

Chromosomes instability of human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Survival due to specific chromosome rearrangements.

Candida albicans is a unicellular budding fungus that forms part of normal gut or genitalia microflora. In immunocompromized humans, however, C. albicans becomes an importan...
Chromosomes instability of human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Survival due to specific chromosome rearrangements.

Candida albicans is a unicellular budding fungus that forms part of normal gut or genitalia microflora. In immunocompromized humans, however, C. albicans becomes an important opportunistic pathogen that can cause mortality. C. albicans is unique among other fungal pathogens by having an ability to infect divers sites of human body, including skin, nails, mucosal surfaces, as well as any other tissues or inner organs. In the laboratory, this fungus demonstrates an impressive ability to flourish under extreme pH and temperatures, as well as in other extreme environments. C. albicans possesses an acute ability to counter act the environmental stresses and to mount adequate phenotypic responses.

Publications

Journal Articles

Identification of 10 genes on chromosome 5 that control surface exposure of the immunogenic cell wall epitope ?-glucan and cell wall remodeling in caspofungin-adapted mutants.

Sah SK, Yadav A, Kruppa MD, Rustchenko E

Microbiology spectrum.. 2023 December 1211 (6):e0329523. Epub 11/15/2023.

Genome-Wide DNA Changes Acquired by Caspofungin-Adapted Mutants.

Zuber J, Sah SK, Mathews DH, Rustchenko E

Microorganisms.. 2023 July 2511 (8)Epub 07/25/2023.

Dual transcriptome of and interplay in biofilms.

Xiao J, Zeng Y, Rustchenko E, Huang X, Wu TT, Falsetta ML

Journal of oral microbiology.. 2023 15 (1):2144047. Epub 11/09/2022.

Multiple Genes of Candida albicans Influencing Echinocandin Susceptibility in Caspofungin-Adapted Mutants.

Sah SK, Bhattacharya S, Yadav A, Husain F, Ndiaye ABKT, Kruppa MD, Hayes JJ, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2022 December 2066 (12):e0097722. Epub 11/10/2022.

Glucan and glycogen exist as a covalently linked macromolecular complex in the cell wall of and other species.

Lowman DW, Sameer Al-Abdul-Wahid M, Ma Z, Kruppa MD, Rustchenko E, Williams DL

The cell surface.. 2021 December 7 :100061. Epub 08/27/2021.

The role of aneuploidy in the emergence of echinocandin resistance in human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

Sah SK, Hayes JJ, Rustchenko E

PLoS pathogens.. 2021 May 17 (5):e1009564. Epub 05/27/2021.

Author Correction: Transcriptional Regulation on Aneuploid Chromosomes in Diverse Candida albicans Mutants.

Tucker C, Bhattacharya S, Wakabayashi H, Bellaousov S, Kravets A, Welle SL, Myers J, Hayes JJ, Bulger M, Rustchenko E

Scientific reports.. 2019 July 59 (1):10019. Epub 07/05/2019.

and Genes of Opportunistic Human Pathogen Candida albicans Influence Echinocandin Susceptibility.

Suwunnakorn S, Wakabayashi H, Kordalewska M, Perlin DS, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2018 April 62 (4)Epub 03/27/2018.

Correction for Yang et al., "Tolerance to Caspofungin in Candida albicans Is Associated with at Least Three Distinctive Mechanisms That Govern Expression of Genes and Cell Wall Remodeling".

Yang F, Zhang L, Wakabayashi H, Myers J, Jiang Y, Cao Y, Jimenez-Ortigosa C, Perlin DS, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2018 April 62 (4)Epub 03/27/2018.

Transcriptional Regulation on Aneuploid Chromosomes in Divers Candida albicans Mutants.

Tucker C, Bhattacharya S, Wakabayashi H, Bellaousov S, Kravets A, Welle SL, Myers J, Hayes JJ, Bulger M, Rustchenko E

Scientific reports.. 2018 January 268 (1):1630. Epub 01/26/2018.

Correction to: NuA4 histone acetyltransferase activity is required for H4 acetylation on a dosage-compensated monosomic chromosome that confers resistance to fungal toxins.

Wakabayashi H, Tucker C, Bethlendy G, Kravets A, Welle SL, Bulger M, Hayes JJ, Rustchenko E

Epigenetics & chromatin.. 2017 November 710 (1):52. Epub 11/07/2017.

NuA4 histone acetyltransferase activity is required for H4 acetylation on a dosage-compensated monosomic chromosome that confers resistance to fungal toxins.

Wakabayashi H, Tucker C, Bethlendy G, Kravets A, Welle SL, Bulger M, Hayes J, Rustchenko E

Epigenetics & chromatin.. 2017 October 2310 (1):49. Epub 10/23/2017.

Tolerance to Caspofungin in Candida albicans Is Associated with at Least Three Distinctive Mechanisms That Govern Expression of Genes and Cell Wall Remodeling.

Yang F, Zhang L, Wakabayashi H, Myers J, Jiang Y, Cao Y, Jimenez-Ortigosa C, Perlin DS, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2017 May 61 (5)Epub 04/24/2017.

Chromosome 5 of Human Pathogen Candida albicans Carries Multiple Genes for Negative Control of Caspofungin and Anidulafungin Susceptibility.

Suwunnakorn S, Wakabayashi H, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2016 December 60 (12):7457-7467. Epub 11/21/2016.

Candida albicans Carriage in Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) and Maternal Relatedness.

Xiao J, Moon Y, Li L, Rustchenko E, Wakabayashi H, Zhao X, Feng C, Gill SR, McLaren S, Malmstrom H, Ren Y, Quivey R, Koo H, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT

PloS one.. 2016 11 (10):e0164242. Epub 10/14/2016.

Adaptation of Candida albicans to growth on sorbose via monosomy of chromosome 5 accompanied by duplication of another chromosome carrying a gene responsible for sorbose utilization.

Kravets A, Yang F, Bethlendy G, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

FEMS yeast research.. 2014 August 14 (5):708-13. Epub 05/13/2014.

Chromosome 5 monosomy of Candida albicans controls susceptibility to various toxic agents, including major antifungals.

Yang F, Kravets A, Bethlendy G, Welle S, Rustchenko E

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy.. 2013 October 57 (10):5026-36. Epub 07/29/2013.

Transcriptional regulatory circuitries in the human pathogen Candida albicans involving sense--antisense interactions.

Ahmad A, Kravets A, Rustchenko E

Genetics.. 2012 February 190 (2):537-47. Epub 11/30/2011.

High-frequency genetic contents variations in clinical Candida albicans isolates.

Yang F, Yan TH, Rustchenko E, Gao PH, Wang Y, Yan L, Cao YY, Wang QJ, Ji H, Cao YB, Jiang YY

Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin.. 2011 34 (5):624-31. Epub 1900 01 01.

Widespread occurrence of dosage compensation in Candida albicans.

Kravets A, Qin H, Ahmad A, Bethlendy G, Gao Q, Rustchenko E

PloS one.. 2010 June 115 (6):e10856. Epub 06/11/2010.

Chromosome instability and unusual features of some widely used strains of Candida albicans.

Ahmad A, Kabir MA, Kravets A, Andaluz E, Larriba G, Rustchenko E

Yeast.. 2008 June 25 (6):433-48. Epub 1900 01 01.

Loss and fragmentation of chromosome 5 are major events linked to the adaptation of rad52-DeltaDelta strains of Candida albicans to sorbose.

Andaluz E, Gómez-Raja J, Hermosa B, Ciudad T, Rustchenko E, Calderone R, Larriba G

Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B.. 2007 August 44 (8):789-98. Epub 01/11/2007.

Chromosome instability in Candida albicans.

Rustchenko E

FEMS yeast research.. 2007 January 7 (1):2-11. Epub 1900 01 01.

Specific chromosome alterations of Candida albicans: mechanisms for adaptation to pathogenicity

Rustchenko, E.;.

Evolutionary biology of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Edited by C. Nombela, G. H. Cassel, F. Baquero and J. A. Gutiérrez-Fuentes. ASM Press. 2007; : (in press).

Chromosome instability in Candida albicans.

Rustchenko, E.;.

FEMS Yeast Research. 2007; 7(3): 1-11.

Specific chromosome alterations of Candida albicans: mechanism for adaptation to pathogenicity

Rustchenko, E.;.

In: Introduction to the evolutionary biology of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Edited by C. Nombela, F. Baquero, J. A. Gutiérrez-Fuentes, ASM Press. 2007; : pp. 197-212.

5-fluoro-orotic acid induces chromosome alterations in genetically manipulated strains of Candida albicans.

Wellington M, Kabir MA, Rustchenko E

Mycologia.. 2006 98 (3):393-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Candida albicans SOU1 encodes a sorbose reductase required for L-sorbose utilization.

Greenberg JR, Price NP, Oliver RP, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Yeast.. 2005 September 22 (12):957-69. Epub 1900 01 01.

Loss and gain of chromosome 5 controls growth of Candida albicans on sorbose due to dispersed redundant negative regulators.

Kabir MA, Ahmad A, Greenberg JR, Wang YK, Rustchenko E

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 2005 August 23102 (34):12147-52. Epub 08/11/2005.

Determination of gaps by contig alignment with telomere-mediated chromosomal fragmentation in Candida albicans.

Kabir MA, Rustchenko E

Gene.. 2005 January 31345 (2):279-87. Epub 01/07/2005.

5-Fluoro-orotic acid induces chromosome alterations in Candida albicans.

Wellington M, Rustchenko E

Yeast.. 2005 January 1522 (1):57-70. Epub 1900 01 01.

Role of the 14-3-3 protein in carbon metabolism of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans.

Wang YK, Das B, Huber DH, Wellington M, Kabir MA, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Yeast.. 2004 June 21 (8):685-702. Epub 1900 01 01.

Candida albicans adaptability to environmental challenges by means of specific chromosome alteration

Rustchenko, E.;.

Recent Research developments in Bacteriology. Transworld Research Network, Vol. 1, pp. 91-102. 2003; .

Regulation de l?expression des genes par des modifications specifiques des chromosomes

Rustchenko, E.;.

In: Annales de l?Institut Pasteur/Actualites. Les Mycoses. Edited by F. Dromer and O. Lortholary. Elsevier, Amsterdam, publisher. 2003; : pp. 223-236.

Genetic instability of Candida albicans

Rustchenko, E.; Sherman, F.;.

Fungi Pathogenic for Humans and Animals, Second Edition. Edited by D. H. Howard. Marcel Dekker, Inc., Publiser. 2002; : pp. 723-776.

UV and X-ray sensitivity of Candida albicans laboratory strains and mutants having chromosomal alterations.

Janbon G, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Revista iberoamericana de micología.. 2001 March 18 (1):12-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Large circular and linear rDNA plasmids in Candida albicans.

Huber D, Rustchenko E

Yeast.. 2001 February 18 (3):261-72. Epub 1900 01 01.

Appearance and properties of L-sorbose-utilizing mutants of Candida albicans obtained on a selective plate.

Janbon G, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Genetics.. 1999 October 153 (2):653-64. Epub 1900 01 01.

Specific chromosome alterations in fluconazole-resistant mutants of Candida albicans.

Perepnikhatka V, Fischer FJ, Niimi M, Baker RA, Cannon RD, Wang YK, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Journal of bacteriology.. 1999 July 181 (13):4041-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Monosomy of a specific chromosome determines L-sorbose utilization: a novel regulatory mechanism in Candida albicans.

Janbon G, Sherman F, Rustchenko E

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 1998 April 2895 (9):5150-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

Phylogenetic relationships of fungal cytochromes c.

Janbon G, Rustchenko EP, Klug S, Scherer S, Sherman F

Yeast.. 1997 August 13 (10):985-90. Epub 1900 01 01.

Variation in assimilating functions occurs in spontaneous Candida albicans mutants having chromosomal alterations.

Rustchenko EP, Howard DH, Sherman F

Microbiology.. 1997 May 143 ( Pt 5) :1765-1778. Epub 1900 01 01.

Physical constitution of ribosomal genes in common strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Rustchenko EP, Sherman F

Yeast.. 1994 September 10 (9):1157-71. Epub 1900 01 01.

Chromosomal alterations of Candida albicans are associated with the gain and loss of assimilating functions.

Rustchenko EP, Howard DH, Sherman F

Journal of bacteriology.. 1994 June 176 (11):3231-41. Epub 1900 01 01.

Variations in the number of ribosomal DNA units in morphological mutants and normal strains of Candida albicans and in normal strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Rustchenko EP, Curran TM, Sherman F

Journal of bacteriology.. 1993 November 175 (22):7189-99. Epub 1900 01 01.

Multiple chromosomal and phenotypic changes in spontaneous mutants of Candida albicans.

Rustchenko-Bulgac EP, Howard DH

Journal of general microbiology.. 1993 June 139 Pt 6 :1195-207. Epub 1900 01 01.

Variations of Candida albicans electrophoretic karyotypes.

Rustchenko-Bulgac EP

Journal of bacteriology.. 1991 October 173 (20):6586-96. Epub 1900 01 01.

Telomeric and dispersed repeat sequences in Candida yeasts and their use in strain identification.

Sadhu C, McEachern MJ, Rustchenko-Bulgac EP, Schmid J, Soll DR, Hicks JB

Journal of bacteriology.. 1991 January 173 (2):842-50. Epub 1900 01 01.

Chromosomal rearrangements associated with morphological mutants provide a means for genetic variation of Candida albicans.

Rustchenko-Bulgac EP, Sherman F, Hicks JB

Journal of bacteriology.. 1990 March 172 (3):1276-83. Epub 1900 01 01.

Comparison of the rearranged complementation maps which code for air-carboxylase

Rustchenko-Bulgac, E. P.;.

Rev. Roum. Biochim. 2. 1985; : 130-148.

Fine structure gene mapping and interpretation of allelic complementation maps on the example of ADE2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rustchenko-Bulgac, E.P.;.

Genetika. 1981; : 2105-2114.

Interallelic complementation at ADE2 locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rustchenko, E. P.;.

Genetika. 1979; : 583-593.

Modification of interallelic complementation at ADE2 locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in small quantities of medium

Rustchenko, E. P.; Soidla, T. R.;.

Genetika. 1976; : 168-170.

Analysis of the influence of modificator genes on interallelic complementation at ADE2 locus in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rustchenko, E. P.; Soidla, T. R.;.

Genetika. 1976; : 156-158.