Matthew Hirakawa

Biography

Matt Hirakawa is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff whose work spans microbiology, fungal biology, genomics, and infectious disease. At Sandia National Laboratories, Matt primarily conducts research into the molecular and cellular biology of diverse fungal species with the aim of advancing the United States’ bioenergy production and biomanufacturing processes. His work involves investigating the genetic regulation of lignin-degrading enzymes in white-rot fungi to enhance sustainable biomass conversion processes, and researching the molecular mechanisms driving genomic instability in fungal microorganisms used for biomanufacturing. Additionally, Matt is involved in research projects at Sandia aimed at developing new cell-based antimicrobial therapies to combat drug-resistant microbial infections in humans. His work has included bioengineering Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) with enhanced antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Education

• B.S. Microbiology; University of California, Davis; Davis, CA, USA (2009)

• Ph.D. Pathobiology; Brown University; Providence, RI, USA (2017)

• Postdoc, Systems Biology; Sandia National Laboratories; Livermore CA, USA (2017-2022)

Research Interests

Microbiology, fungal biology, genomics, infectious disease

Professional Organizations and Leadership

American Society for Microbiology (Member, 2011 – present)

Publications

1. Hirakawa, M.P., Rodriguez, A., Tran-Gyamfi, M.B., Light, Y.K., Diamond-Pott, H., Martinez, S., and Sale, K.L. (2023). “Phenothiazines rapidly induce expression of lignin-degrading enzymes in the white-rot fungus Phlebia radiata.” Journal of Fungi, doi: 10.3390/jof9030371.

2. Hirakawa, M.P., Tjahjono, N., Light, Y.K., Celebi, A.N., Celebi, N.N., Chintalapudi, P., Butler, K.S., Branda, S.S., and Krishnakumar, R. (2022). “Upregulation of CD14 in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Accelerates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Response and Enhances Antibacterial Properties.” iScience, doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103759.

3. Thomson G.J., Kakade, P., Hirakawa, M.P., Ene, I.V., and Bennett, R.J. (2021). “Adaptation to the dietary sugar D-tagatose via genome instability in polyploid Candida albicans cells.” G3, doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab110.

4. Hirakawa, M.P., Krishnakumar, R., Timlin, J.A., Carney, J.P., and Butler, K.S. (2020). “Gene editing and CRISPR in the clinic: current and future perspectives.” Bioscience Reports 40, doi: 10.1042/BSR20200127.

5. Frazer, C., Staples, M.I., Kim, Y., Hirakawa, M., Dowell, M.A., Johnson, N.V., Hernday, A.D., Ryan, V.H., Fawzi, N.L., Finkelstein, I.J., and Bennett, R.J. (2020). “Epigenetic cell fate in Candida albicans is controlled by transcription factor condensates acting at super-enhancer-like elements.” Nature Microbiology 5, 1374-1389.

6. Anderson, M.Z., G.J. Thomson, M.P. Hirakawa, and R.J. Bennett (2019). “A ‘parameiosis’ drives depolyploidization and homologous recombination in Candida albicans.” Nature Communications, 10(1):4388.

7. Liang, S.H., M. Z. Anderson, M. P. Hirakawa, J. M. Wang, C. Frazer, L. M. Alaalm, G. J. Thomson, I. V. Ene, and R. J. Bennett (2019). “Hemizygosity Enables a Mutational Transition Governing Fungal Virulence and Commensalism.” Cell Host & Microbe, 25(3):418-436.e6.

8. Ene, I.V., R. A. Farrer, M. P. Hirakawa, K. Agwamba, C. A. Cuomo, and R. J. Bennett (2018). “Global analysis of mutations driving microevolution of a heterozygous diploid fungal pathogen.” PNAS, 115(37): E8688-E8697.

9. Hirakawa, M.P., D. Chyou, D. Huang, A. Slan, and R.J. Bennett (2017). “Parasex in C. albicans Generates Phenotypic Diversity De Novo and Impacts Drug Resistance and Virulence.” Genetics, 207(3): 1195-1211.

10. Hirakawa, M. P., D. A. Martinez, S. Sakthikumar, M. Z. Anderson, A. Berlin, S. Gujja, Q. Zeng, E. Zisson, J. M. Wang, J. M. Greenberg, J. Berman, R. J. Bennett and C. A. Cuomo (2015). “Genetic and phenotypic intra-species variation in Candida albicans.” Genome Research, 25(3): 413-425.

11. Shintaku, T., K. A. Glass, M. P. Hirakawa, S. J. Longley, R. J. Bennett, J. M. Bliss and S. K. Shaw (2013). “Human endothelial cells internalize Candida parapsilosis via N-WASP-mediated endocytosis.” Infection and Immunity, 81(8): 2777-2787.

12. Seervai, R. N., S. K. Jones, M. P. Hirakawa, A. M. Porman and R. J. Bennett (2013). “Parasexuality and ploidy change in Candida tropicalis.” Eukaryotic Cell, 12(12): 1629-1640.

13. Hickman, M. A., G. Zeng, A. Forche, M. P. Hirakawa, D. Abbey, B. D. Harrison, Y. M. Wang, C. H. Su, R. J. Bennett, Y. Wang and J. Berman (2013). “The ‘obligate diploid’ Candida albicans forms mating-competent haploids.” Nature, 494(7435): 55-59.

14. Porman, A. M., K. Alby, M. P. Hirakawa and R. J. Bennett (2011). “Discovery of a phenotypic switch regulating sexual mating in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis.” PNAS, 108(52): 21158-21163.

15. Hagen, K. D., M. P. Hirakawa, S. A. House, C. L. Schwartz, J. K. Pham, M. J. Cipriano, M. J. De La Torre, A. C. Sek, G. Du, B. M. Forsythe and S. C. Dawson (2011). “Novel structural components of the ventral disc and lateral crest in Giardia intestinalis.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 5(12): e1442.

Awards

Joukowsky Outstanding Dissertation Award, Brown University Graduate School, 2017

Ruth L. Kirschstein Pre-Doctoral National Research Service Award (F31), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Role: PI ; Project Number F31DE023726, 2014 – 2017

Frederic Poole Gorham Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Brown University Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, 2013

Charles “Chick” Kuhn Graduate Award in Disease Pathogenesis, Brown University Pathobiology Graduate Program, 2012

Outstanding Graduating Senior of Microbiology, UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association, 2009