A5038821023- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Gut microbiota and health
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Water Quality Monitoring Technologies
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
University of Turku
2021-2025
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
2015-2024
Mae Fah Luang University
2023
Åbo Akademi University
2023
Wasser Cluster Lunz
2021-2022
Leibniz Association
2018
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2010-2015
ETH Zurich
2012-2015
University of Zurich
2010
Summary 1. We describe the dynamics of host–parasite interactions over a period more than 30 years between freshwater diatom Asterionella formosa and two highly virulent chytrid parasites ( Rhizophydium planktonicum Zygorhizidium ) in Lake Maarsseveen, The Netherlands. This is characterised by significant warming trend which strongest spring. 2. key spring event lakes, bloom, was many dominated . examine whether how climate has affected prevalence infection chytrids. 3. In with cold...
Sequence comparison and analysis of the various ribosomal genetic markers are dominant molecular methods for identification description fungi. However, new environmental fungal lineages known only from DNA data reveal significant gaps in our sampling kingdom terms both taxonomy marker coverage reference sequence databases. To facilitate integration all markers, we present three sets general primers that allow amplification complete operon tandem repeats. The cover markers: ETS, SSU, ITS1,...
Microbial interactions in aquatic environments profoundly affect global biogeochemical cycles, but the role of microparasites has been largely overlooked. Using a model pathosystem, we studied hitherto cryptic between microparasitic fungi (chytrid
Zoosporic fungi of the phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids) regularly dominate pelagic fungal communities in freshwater and marine environments. Their lifestyles range from obligate parasites to saprophytes. Yet, linking scarce available sequence data specific ecological traits or their host ranges constitutes currently a major challenge. We combined 28 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with targeted isolation approaches, along cross-infection assays analysis chytrid infection prevalence obtain...
Abstract Parasitism is arguably the most commonly occurring consumer strategy. However, only a few food web studies assess how well stable isotopes reflect trophic position of parasitic consumers and results are variable. Even fewer have measured nutrient transfer by consumers, hindering an assessment their role in through webs. Here we used chain consisting diatom as host, chytrid its rotifer predatory chytrid, to all three food-chain components using natural 13 C 15 N isotope signatures,...
ABSTRACT Amplicon sequencing tools such as metabarcoding are commonly used for thorough characterisation of microbial diversity in natural samples. They mostly rely on the amplification conserved universal markers, mainly ribosomal genes, allowing taxonomic assignment barcodes. However, linking classification with functional traits is not straightforward and requires knowledge each group to confidently assign taxa a given trait. Zoosporic parasites highly diverse yet understudied, many...
The spatiotemporal changes in abundance and biomass of heterotrophic bacteria, three major bacterial phylogenetic groups, picocyanobacteria the upper 20 m a deep prealpine lake (Lake Zurich, Switzerland) were monitored during seasonally persistent bloom toxigenic filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens . In addition, 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequences collected at one instance from layer waters above below this zone. P. comprised up to 70% particulate organic...
Chytrids are zoosporic fungi that play an important, but yet understudied, ecological role in aquatic ecosystems. Many chytrid species have been morphologically described as parasites on phytoplankton. However, the majority of them rarely isolated and lack DNA sequence data. In this study we cultivated three parasitic chytrids, infecting a common volvocacean host species, Yamagishiella unicocca. To identify characterized morphology life cycle, analyzed phylogenetic relationships based 18S...
During the last decade, classification system of chytrids has dramatically changed based on zoospore ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny. In contrast to well-studied saprotrophic chytrids, most parasitic have thus far been only morphologically described by light microscopy, hence they hold great potential for filling some existing gaps in current chytrids. The genus Zygorhizidium is characterized an operculate zoosporangium a resting spore formed as result sexual reproduction which male...
Abstract Phytoplankton forms the base of aquatic food webs and element cycling in diverse systems. The fate phytoplankton-derived organic matter, however, often remains unresolved as it is controlled by complex, interlinked remineralization sedimentation processes. We here investigate a rarely considered control mechanism on sinking matter fluxes: fungal parasites infecting phytoplankton. demonstrate that bacterial colonization promoted 3.5-fold fungal-infected phytoplankton cells comparison...
Recent DNA-based studies have shown that the built environment is surprisingly rich in fungi. These indoor fungi - whether transient visitors or more persistent residents may hold clues to rising levels of human allergies and other medical building-related health problems observed globally. The taxonomic identity these crucial such pursuits. Molecular identification mycobiome no trivial undertaking, however, given large number unidentified, misidentified, technically compromised fungal...
Aquatic fungi are a largely unexplored group of organisms with still unknown diversity ecological niches. Groundwater biomes comprise vast but poorly explored habitats. In this study, we sampled the Icelandic groundwater, unique system that has been separated and isolated into distinct basins for millions years due to volcanic activity. The aim was explore fungal its connection surface waters. We screened DNA-based 11 groundwater springs their emerging waters by ITS metabarcoding, revealing...
Many freshwater and marine algal species are described as having cosmopolitan distributions. Whether these widely distributed morphologically similar algae also share a gene pool remains often unclear. In the context of island biogeography theory, stronger spatial isolation deemed typical lakes should restrict flow lead to higher genetic differentiation among lakes. Using nine microsatellite loci, we investigate diversity planktonic diatom, Asterionella formosa, across different in...
Parasitism is the most common lifestyle on Earth and has emerged many times independently across eukaryotic tree of life. It frequently found among chytrids (Chytridiomycota), which are early-branching unicellular fungi that feed osmotrophically via rhizoids as saprotrophs or parasites. Chytrids abundant in aquatic terrestrial environments fulfil important ecosystem functions. As parasites, they can have significant impacts host populations. They cause global amphibian declines influence...
Fungal microparasites (here chytrids) are widely distributed and yet, they often overlooked in aquatic environments. To facilitate the detection of microparasites, we revisited applicability two fungal cell wall markers, Calcofluor White (CFW) wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), for direct visualization chytrid infections on phytoplankton laboratory-maintained isolates field-sampled communities. Using a comprehensive set chytrid-phytoplankton model pathosystems, verified staining pattern diverse...
Aquatic ecosystems are frequently overlooked as fungal habitats, although there is increasing evidence that their diversity and ecological importance greater than previously considered. fungi critical abundant components of nutrient cycling food web dynamics, e.g., exerting top-down control on phytoplankton communities forming symbioses with many marine microorganisms. However, relevance for microphytobenthic almost unexplored. In the light global warming, polar regions face extreme changes...
Zoosporic parasites (i.e. fungi and fungi-like aquatic microorganisms) constitute important drivers of natural populations, causing severe host mortality. Economic impacts parasitic diseases are notable in the microalgae biotech industry, affecting production food ingredients, biofuels, pharma- nutraceuticals. While scientific research on this topic is gaining traction by increasing studies elucidating functional role zoosporic ecosystems, we currently lacking integrated interdisciplinary...
ABSTRACT Quantification and sizing of filamentous cyanobacteria in environmental samples or cultures are time-consuming often performed by using manual semiautomated microscopic analysis. Automation conventional image analysis is difficult because filaments may exhibit great variations length patchy autofluorescence. Moreover, individual frequently cross each other preparations, as deduced modeling. This paper describes a novel approach based on object-oriented to simultaneously determine...
The objective of this methodological paper is to outline a microscopy protocol for detecting and observing fungal zoosporic parasites phytoplankton in natural environments, with potential applications algal biotechnology enhance the success sustainability cultivation endeavors. fluorescent dual staining wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) Calcofluor White (CFW) showcased during Training School "Identification detection parasites" Neuglobsow (Germany) from 16 th till 18 May 2023...