Colin MacDiarmid, PhD
Position title: Scientist I
Email: macdiarmid@pediatrics.wisc.edu
Address:
Division of Infectious Diseases
Education
BS, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
MSc, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
PhD, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Professional Activities
Dr. Colin MacDiarmid is scientist I in the Division of Infectious Diseases.
Research Interests
MacDiarmid’s career has focused on understanding the factors important for homeostasis of essential metal ions, such as zinc and magnesium. This work has primarily used the model system Bakers’ yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). MacDiarmid’s recent focus has been on understanding how yeast cells adapt to severe and sustained deficiency of zinc, and how the redox regulation of certain key proteins contributes to this adaptation. In work with David Eide, MacDiarmid discovered that a key response to zinc deficiency is the down-regulation of glycolysis, which may allow yeast to more effectively utilize alternative carbon sources. Recently, MacDiarmid started work in the laboratory of Dr Bruce Klein, investigating white nose syndrome, a major killer of bats caused by the pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. This lab hopes to characterize fungal proteins necessary for the virulence of this fungus, and identify factors useful for development of novel vaccines.