Christina Hull

Christina Hull is a Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis, particularly in Cryptococcus neoformans, a leading cause of fungal meningitis. She leads the Hull Laboratory, which investigates fungal sexual development, spore biology, and host-pathogen interactions.

Her research interests include fungal spore germination, infectious particle formation, host immune responses, and antifungal drug discovery. The lab employs genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches to dissect the pathways controlling fungal development and virulence. A central theme is understanding how spores—the presumed infectious agents—differentiate and cause disease.

Dr. Hull’s recent publications highlight trends in spore biogenesis, high-throughput screening for antifungal compounds, and the development of microfluidic tools to study germination dynamics. Her work bridges fundamental biology and translational applications, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets.

She has mentored numerous students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing significantly to training the next generation of microbiologists. Her lab emphasizes inclusivity, equity, and scientific integrity.

Notable scientific contributions include the development of luciferase-based germination assays, characterization of spore protein composition, and insights into how spores evade immune detection. Her work has been published in top journals such as mBio, PLoS Pathogens, and Annual Review of Genetics.