HittingerLab
@hittingerlab.bsky.social
Yeast evolutionary genomics with applications in brewing and bioenergy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Moderated by Hittinger Lab members. Opinions do not necessarily belong to anyone. Lab website: http://hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu.
New work led by members of the @rokaslab.bsky.social! ☺️ 1,154 yeast genomes in the Saccharomycotina subphylum were surveyed for their relationship between reduced gene repertoires broadly associated with genome stability functions and elevated evolutionary rates.🧬
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
Stable hypermutators revealed by the genomic landscape of genes involved in genome stability among yeast species
Abstract. Mutator phenotypes are short-lived due to the rapid accumulation of deleterious mutations. Yet, recent observations reveal that certain fungi can
academic.oup.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
New work led by members of the @rokaslab.bsky.social! ☺️ 1,154 yeast genomes in the Saccharomycotina subphylum were surveyed for their relationship between reduced gene repertoires broadly associated with genome stability functions and elevated evolutionary rates.🧬
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
With @linder-surprise.bsky.social and the @rokaslab.bsky.social, we recently expanded upon an analysis where glucose uptake rates were inversely correlated with the cell surface area-to-volume ratio, testing 282 species in the Saccharomycotina yeast subphylum.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
With @linder-surprise.bsky.social and the @rokaslab.bsky.social, we recently expanded upon an analysis where glucose uptake rates were inversely correlated with the cell surface area-to-volume ratio, testing 282 species in the Saccharomycotina yeast subphylum.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a preprint with the @rokaslab.bsky.social , @linder-surprise.bsky.social developed a high-throughput extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) assay to evaluate glycolytic rate. We highlight how genetic traits, such as aerobic fermentation, can arise convergently with strong constraints. 🧬
Convergent evolution of aerobic fermentation through divergent mechanisms acting on key shared glycolytic genes
As the tree of life becomes increasingly accessible to molecular investigations, describing mechanisms underlying evolutionary convergence and constraint will be crucial to understanding diversificati...
www.biorxiv.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
In a preprint with the @rokaslab.bsky.social , @linder-surprise.bsky.social developed a high-throughput extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) assay to evaluate glycolytic rate. We highlight how genetic traits, such as aerobic fermentation, can arise convergently with strong constraints. 🧬
Reposted by HittingerLab
This work has also been featured on the DOE Science News Source initiative, Newswise, which promotes credible research news to the public. By publishing accessible summaries of recent studies that reach thousands of media outlets, it helps experts share their work with a broader audience.
Machine Learning Reveals Genes That Help Yeasts Resist Stress
Scientists used machine learning to analyze the genetic blueprints of hundreds of yeasts. This analysis allowed them to identify which groups of genes are most important for resistance to reactive oxy...
www.newswise.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This work has also been featured on the DOE Science News Source initiative, Newswise, which promotes credible research news to the public. By publishing accessible summaries of recent studies that reach thousands of media outlets, it helps experts share their work with a broader audience.
We are honored to share that our work, led by @katarina-aranguiz.bsky.social and @linder-surprise.bsky.social, has been featured as a Science Highlight on the DOE's Office of Science website. 200 articles are selected annually to be highlighted. Check it out! 🧫
www.energy.gov/science/ber/...
www.energy.gov/science/ber/...
Machine Learning Reveals Genes That Help Yeasts Resist Stress
Study provides a framework for connecting genetic mechanisms and trait variation across diverse yeast species.
www.energy.gov
October 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
We are honored to share that our work, led by @katarina-aranguiz.bsky.social and @linder-surprise.bsky.social, has been featured as a Science Highlight on the DOE's Office of Science website. 200 articles are selected annually to be highlighted. Check it out! 🧫
www.energy.gov/science/ber/...
www.energy.gov/science/ber/...
Reposted by HittingerLab
What started as a project characterizing variation in metabolic rates across yeasts turned into an interesting story about convergent evolution acting on the same key genes through distinct molecular mechanisms with @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @rokaslab.bsky.social.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Convergent evolution of aerobic fermentation through divergent mechanisms acting on key shared glycolytic genes
As the tree of life becomes increasingly accessible to molecular investigations, describing mechanisms underlying evolutionary convergence and constraint will be crucial to understanding diversificati...
www.biorxiv.org
October 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
What started as a project characterizing variation in metabolic rates across yeasts turned into an interesting story about convergent evolution acting on the same key genes through distinct molecular mechanisms with @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @rokaslab.bsky.social.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by HittingerLab
We often talk about THE whole genome duplication in yeasts, but we find new evidence of additional whole genome duplications in other yeast species!
Check out this preprint led by @kylethedavid.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out this preprint led by @kylethedavid.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Discovery of additional ancient genome duplications in yeasts
Whole genome duplication (WGD) has had profound macroevolutionary impacts on diverse lineages, preceding adaptive radiations in vertebrates, teleost fish, and angiosperms. In contrast to the many know...
www.biorxiv.org
September 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
We often talk about THE whole genome duplication in yeasts, but we find new evidence of additional whole genome duplications in other yeast species!
Check out this preprint led by @kylethedavid.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out this preprint led by @kylethedavid.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Checkout our new preprint with the @rokaslab.bsky.social!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Discovery of additional ancient genome duplications in yeasts
Whole genome duplication (WGD) has had profound macroevolutionary impacts on diverse lineages[1][1],[2][2], preceding adaptive radiations in vertebrates[3][3]–[5][4], teleost fish[6][5],[7][6], and an...
www.biorxiv.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Checkout our new preprint with the @rokaslab.bsky.social!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
With the Opulente Lab at Villanova Univ., we describe a new yeast species: Lachancea rosae sp. nov. f.a., isolated from the hip bud of a wild California rose 🌹. This species unique traits adds to the biodiversity of the Lachancea genus. Open access article:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Taxogenomic Analysis of a Novel Yeast Species, Lachancea rosae Sp. Nov. F.A., Isolated From the Wild Rose Rosa californica
The discovery, description, and taxogenomic analysis of a novel species of Lachancea revealed correlations between gene content and carbon and nitrogen physiological assays.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
With the Opulente Lab at Villanova Univ., we describe a new yeast species: Lachancea rosae sp. nov. f.a., isolated from the hip bud of a wild California rose 🌹. This species unique traits adds to the biodiversity of the Lachancea genus. Open access article:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by HittingerLab
New #Yeast paper out from the series #FantasticYeasts!!! @hittingerlab.bsky.social , Dana Opulente & team describe a novel species, Lachancea rosae, isolated from the wild rose Rosa californica 🌹
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Taxogenomic Analysis of a Novel Yeast Species, Lachancea rosae Sp. Nov. F.A., Isolated From the Wild Rose Rosa californica
The discovery, description, and taxogenomic analysis of a novel species of Lachancea revealed correlations between gene content and carbon and nitrogen physiological assays.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
New #Yeast paper out from the series #FantasticYeasts!!! @hittingerlab.bsky.social , Dana Opulente & team describe a novel species, Lachancea rosae, isolated from the wild rose Rosa californica 🌹
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
We’re excited to share our latest paper, an international collaboration led by Katharina O. Barros and Jassim Al-Oboudi, describing Pichia senei sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from cactus necrosis and bromeliad phytotelmata in Brazil’s Cerrado ecosystem. 🌵🇧🇷
August 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
We’re excited to share our latest paper, an international collaboration led by Katharina O. Barros and Jassim Al-Oboudi, describing Pichia senei sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from cactus necrosis and bromeliad phytotelmata in Brazil’s Cerrado ecosystem. 🌵🇧🇷
Reposted by HittingerLab
WE ARE #HIRING‼️
Join the @hittingerlab.bsky.social to study yeast evolution, ecology, and bioenergy applications of yeast species as a Research Associate. Apply by August 15 www.glbrc.org/about/job-op...
#research #job
Join the @hittingerlab.bsky.social to study yeast evolution, ecology, and bioenergy applications of yeast species as a Research Associate. Apply by August 15 www.glbrc.org/about/job-op...
#research #job
August 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
WE ARE #HIRING‼️
Join the @hittingerlab.bsky.social to study yeast evolution, ecology, and bioenergy applications of yeast species as a Research Associate. Apply by August 15 www.glbrc.org/about/job-op...
#research #job
Join the @hittingerlab.bsky.social to study yeast evolution, ecology, and bioenergy applications of yeast species as a Research Associate. Apply by August 15 www.glbrc.org/about/job-op...
#research #job
Two more weeks to apply for this postdoctoral training position!📆
We have an opening for postdoctoral training! Please apply by 15th August 2025 for full consideration. Here is the ad: hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu/People/Join/...
hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu
August 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Two more weeks to apply for this postdoctoral training position!📆
We have an opening for postdoctoral training! Please apply by 15th August 2025 for full consideration. Here is the ad: hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu/People/Join/...
hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu
July 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM
We have an opening for postdoctoral training! Please apply by 15th August 2025 for full consideration. Here is the ad: hittinger.genetics.wisc.edu/People/Join/...
In another fruitful collaboration with the @rokaslab.bsky.social, Hittinger Lab members @katarina-aranguiz.bsky.social and @linder-surprise.bsky.social , et al. established a ML framework to identify gene families in the yeast subphylum Saccharomycotina whose copy numbers predicted ROS resistance.
Machine learning reveals genes impacting oxidative stress resistance across yeasts - Nature Communications
Yeasts are exposed to oxidative stress during routine metabolism, bioproduction, and interactions with other organisms. Here, the authors use a machine learning classifier to identify genes that are p...
www.nature.com
July 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
In another fruitful collaboration with the @rokaslab.bsky.social, Hittinger Lab members @katarina-aranguiz.bsky.social and @linder-surprise.bsky.social , et al. established a ML framework to identify gene families in the yeast subphylum Saccharomycotina whose copy numbers predicted ROS resistance.
Congrats to @emuthemycologist.bsky.social for presenting her first talk at #MSAfungi25!
July 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Congrats to @emuthemycologist.bsky.social for presenting her first talk at #MSAfungi25!
Hey #MSAfungi25, check out @emuthemycologist.bsky.social's presentation "Galactose growth in the Saccharomycotina yeasts lacking the canonical GAL pathway" today at 3:45pm in the Genetics and Genomics session!
@msafungi.bsky.social
@msafungi.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Hey #MSAfungi25, check out @emuthemycologist.bsky.social's presentation "Galactose growth in the Saccharomycotina yeasts lacking the canonical GAL pathway" today at 3:45pm in the Genetics and Genomics session!
@msafungi.bsky.social
@msafungi.bsky.social
Reposted by HittingerLab
Now @hittingerlab.bsky.social introducing their great applied projects.
June 17, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Now @hittingerlab.bsky.social introducing their great applied projects.
Reposted by HittingerLab
Having fantastic days of Science with @stelkens.bsky.social and @hittingerlab.bsky.social in the @iatacsic.bsky.social.
So inspiring. Great research and better persons !
Thanks to @dperisn.bsky.social @fungialab.bsky.social for organizing it.
So inspiring. Great research and better persons !
Thanks to @dperisn.bsky.social @fungialab.bsky.social for organizing it.
June 17, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Having fantastic days of Science with @stelkens.bsky.social and @hittingerlab.bsky.social in the @iatacsic.bsky.social.
So inspiring. Great research and better persons !
Thanks to @dperisn.bsky.social @fungialab.bsky.social for organizing it.
So inspiring. Great research and better persons !
Thanks to @dperisn.bsky.social @fungialab.bsky.social for organizing it.
Convergent evolution occurs when similar traits arise independently in different lineages. In collaboration with the @rokaslab.bsky.social at Vanderbilt University, we studied the convergent evolution of metabolic traits and gene families in 993 Saccharomycotina yeasts.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
June 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Convergent evolution occurs when similar traits arise independently in different lineages. In collaboration with the @rokaslab.bsky.social at Vanderbilt University, we studied the convergent evolution of metabolic traits and gene families in 993 Saccharomycotina yeasts.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by HittingerLab
Graduate student Sam Davison is the recipient of the 2025 GLBRC Outreach & Education award for his dedication to programming and outreach events! Davison is a regular volunteer at outreach events where he builds connections through imagination and creativity. Huge congrats, Sam!
May 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Graduate student Sam Davison is the recipient of the 2025 GLBRC Outreach & Education award for his dedication to programming and outreach events! Davison is a regular volunteer at outreach events where he builds connections through imagination and creativity. Huge congrats, Sam!
Reposted by HittingerLab
How many paths lead to evolutionary innovation? How versatile are genomic toolkits? Excited to announce my new @pnas.org paper addressing these questions in collaboration with @rokaslab.bsky.social, @hittingerlab.bsky.social, and the Pennell lab!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
June 4, 2025 at 3:36 PM
How many paths lead to evolutionary innovation? How versatile are genomic toolkits? Excited to announce my new @pnas.org paper addressing these questions in collaboration with @rokaslab.bsky.social, @hittingerlab.bsky.social, and the Pennell lab!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by HittingerLab
🧬 Microbial Marvels: Biodiversity & Evolution of Yeasts
Top scientists @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @stelkens.bsky.social reveal how yeasts evolve, adapt, and speciate. @uv.es @upv.es Don’t miss this inspiring workshop!
📅 June 16 📍 @iatacsic.bsky.social🔗https://bit.ly/4mytSC2 #YeastScience
Top scientists @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @stelkens.bsky.social reveal how yeasts evolve, adapt, and speciate. @uv.es @upv.es Don’t miss this inspiring workshop!
📅 June 16 📍 @iatacsic.bsky.social🔗https://bit.ly/4mytSC2 #YeastScience
June 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🧬 Microbial Marvels: Biodiversity & Evolution of Yeasts
Top scientists @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @stelkens.bsky.social reveal how yeasts evolve, adapt, and speciate. @uv.es @upv.es Don’t miss this inspiring workshop!
📅 June 16 📍 @iatacsic.bsky.social🔗https://bit.ly/4mytSC2 #YeastScience
Top scientists @hittingerlab.bsky.social & @stelkens.bsky.social reveal how yeasts evolve, adapt, and speciate. @uv.es @upv.es Don’t miss this inspiring workshop!
📅 June 16 📍 @iatacsic.bsky.social🔗https://bit.ly/4mytSC2 #YeastScience
Reposted by HittingerLab
Register for the 5th Virtual CanFunNet Conference: From Local to Global. Join us August 6 - 8th for an amazing line of Plenary Speakers and awesome topics in fungal research. Submit your abstracts by Friday, May 30!
May 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Register for the 5th Virtual CanFunNet Conference: From Local to Global. Join us August 6 - 8th for an amazing line of Plenary Speakers and awesome topics in fungal research. Submit your abstracts by Friday, May 30!
Just out - a collaborative effort examining gene family evolution across yeast species. We found that fast-evolving yeasts lose more genes - especially ones for splicing, metabolism, and cell division. This is consistent with their narrow metabolic niche breadth.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Unique trajectory of gene family evolution from genomic analysis of nearly all known species in an ancient yeast lineage | Molecular Systems Biology
imageimageLarge-scale comparison of gene families across 1154 Saccharomycotina genomes revealed
that gene gains and losses drive yeast evolution. Faster-evolving lineages lose more
genes and speciate ...
www.embopress.org
May 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Just out - a collaborative effort examining gene family evolution across yeast species. We found that fast-evolving yeasts lose more genes - especially ones for splicing, metabolism, and cell division. This is consistent with their narrow metabolic niche breadth.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....