A5057408705- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
Utrecht University
2007-2025
University of Central Florida
2017-2024
Florida College
2019
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2015-2017
Urologische Klinik München
2017
Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy
2013-2015
Pennsylvania State University
2013-2015
Cancer Genomics Centre
2008-2014
University of Oxford
2006
Genome biology approaches have made enormous contributions to our understanding of biological rhythms, particularly in identifying outputs the clock, including RNAs, proteins, and metabolites, whose abundance oscillates throughout day. These methods hold significant promise for future discovery, when combined with computational modeling. However, genome-scale experiments are costly laborious, yielding “big data” that conceptually statistically difficult analyze. There is no obvious consensus...
Adaptive manipulation of animal behavior by parasites functions to increase parasite transmission through changes in host behavior. These can range from slight alterations existing behaviors the establishment wholly novel behaviors. The biting observed Carpenter ants infected specialized fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l. is an example latter. Though parasitic generally assumed be due parasite's gene expression, few studies have set out test this. We experimentally collect tissue both...
Summary Mushrooms represent the most conspicuous structures of fungi. Their development is being studied in model basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune . The genome S. contains 472 genes encoding predicted transcription factors. Of these, fst3 and fst4 were shown to inhibit induce mushroom respectively. Here, we inactivated five additional factor genes. This resulted absence (in case deletion bri1 hom2 ), arrested at stage aggregate formation c2h2 ) more but smaller mushrooms hom1 gat1 )....
A compelling demonstration of adaptation by natural selection is the ability parasites to manipulate host behavior. One dramatic example involves fungal species from genus Ophiocordyceps that control their ant hosts inducing a biting Intensive sampling across globe ants died after being manipulated suggests this phenomenon highly species-specific. We advance our understanding system reconstructing manipulation under controlled laboratory conditions and combining with field observations...
Abstract Background The mosquito microbiome is an important modulator of vector competence and vectoral capacity. Unlike the extensively studied bacterial microbiome, fungal communities in (the mycobiome) remain largely unexplored. To work towards getting improved understanding fungi associated with mosquitoes, we sequenced mycobiome three field-collected laboratory-reared species ( Aedes albopictus, aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus ). Results Our analysis showed both environment host were...
ABSTRACT Fungal mycelia are exposed to heterogenic substrates. The substrate in the central part of colony has been (partly) degraded, whereas it is still unexplored at periphery mycelium. We here assessed whether heterogeneity a main determinant spatial gene expression colonies Aspergillus niger . This question was addressed by analyzing whole-genome five concentric zones 7-day-old maltose- and xylose-grown colonies. Expression profiles center were clearly different. More than 25% active...
Abstract Single cell profiling was performed to assess differences in RNA accumulation neighboring hyphae of the fungus Aspergillus niger . A protocol developed isolate and amplify from single or parts thereof. Microarray analysis resulted a present call for 4 7% A. genes, which 12% showed heterogeneous levels. These genes belonged wide range gene categories.
Schizophyllum commune is the only mushroom-forming fungus in which targeted gene deletions by homologous recombination have been reported. However, these occur with a low frequency. To overcome this, ku80 of S. was deleted. This involved nonhomologous end-joining system for DNA repair. The Deltaku80 strain not affected growth and development. transformation efficiency reduced up to 100-fold. accompanied strong increase relative number transformants integration knockout construct. Genes sc15,...
Much can be gained from revealing the mechanisms fungal entomopathogens employ. Especially intriguing are parasites that manipulate insect behavior because, presumably, they secrete a wealth of bioactive compounds. To gain more insight into their strategies, we compared genomes five ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps species three complexes. These were collected across continents, different ant in which induce levels manipulation. A considerable number (small) secreted and pathogenicity-related...
Abstract Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps fungi are globally distributed, host manipulating, specialist parasites that drive aberrant behaviors in infected ants, at a lethal cost to the host. An apparent increase activity and wandering precedes final summiting biting behavior onto vegetation, which positions manipulated ant site beneficial for fungal growth transmission. We investigated genetic underpinnings of manipulation by: (i) producing high-quality hybrid assembly annotation...
Transmission is a crucial step in all pathogen life cycles. As such, certain species have evolved complex traits that increase their chances to find and invade new hosts.
Circadian clocks allow organisms to anticipate daily fluctuations in their environment by driving rhythms physiology and behavior. Inter-organismal differences rhythms, called chronotypes, exist can shift with age. In ants, age, caste-related behavior chronotype appear be linked. Brood-tending nurse ants are usually younger individuals show "around-the-clock" activity. With age or the absence of brood, nurses transition into foraging that Ants adaptively between these behavioral castes...
ABSTRACT The fungus Aspergillus niger forms (sub)millimeter microcolonies within a liquid shaken culture. Here, we show that such are heterogeneous with respect to size and gene expression. Microcolonies of strains expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the promoter glucoamlyase glaA or ferulic acid esterase faeA were sorted on basis diameter fluorescence using Complex Object Parametric Analyzer Sorter (COPAS) technology. Statistical analysis revealed culture consisted two...
Summary Colonization of a substrate by fungi starts with the invasion exploring hyphae. These hyphae secrete enzymes that degrade organic material into small molecules can be taken up fungus to serve as nutrients. We previously showed only part Aspergillus niger highly express glucoamylase gene glaA . This was an unexpected finding since all are exposed same environmental conditions. Using GFP reporter, we here demonstrate acid amylase aamA , α‐glucuronidase aguA and feruloyl esterase faeA...
Fungal entomopathogens rely on cellular heterogeneity during the different stages of insect host infection. Their pathogenicity is exhibited through secretion secondary metabolites, which implies that infection life history this group environmentally important fungi can be revealed using metabolomics. Here metabolomic analysis in combination with ex vivo tissue culturing shows two generalist isolates genus Metarhizium and Beauveria, commonly used as biological pesticides, employ...
Many parasites have evolved strategies to exploit host behaviour for successful transmission. Ophiocordyceps manipulations of carpenter ant represent an evident example. Manipulated ants are coerced ascend vegetation and clamp down their mandibles in a stereotypical 'death-grip' bite. The fungus then kills the ant, sprouts stalk releases infective spores. Research has focused on this final manipulation, leaving subtler behavioural changes prebiting largely unexplored. Field transcriptome...
Camponotus floridanus ants show altered behaviors followed by a fatal summiting phenotype when infected with manipulating Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani fungi. Host as strategy to increase transmission is also observed parasite taxa beyond fungi, including aquatic and terrestrial helminths baculoviruses. The drastic phenotypic changes can sometimes reflect significant molecular in gene expression metabolite concentrations measured manipulated hosts. Nevertheless, the underlying...
<title>Abstract</title> Pests are responsible for the loss of up to 40% global crops. Widespread resistance pesticides has emerged due overuse a limited set compounds and targets. This overreliance driven rapid adaptation pest populations, making increasingly ineffective while posing significant risks public health environment. Many fungal species form symbiotic relationships with plants antagonizing insects, nematodes, bacteria, them valuable sources sustainable biocontrol agents...