Institute of Biotechnology and Drug Research (IBWF)
Scientific Portrait
What we work upon
The IBWF unites more than 40 years of research experience with fungi, enzymes, secondary metabolites and fungal genetics with a non-commercial, unique collection of about 20,000 fungi and their extracts. The strain collection comprises fungi from various ecological niches around the world and is an ideal basis for the suggested search in this project for the special "language" between microorganisms (plant and pathogen/fungus) and plants.
The interdisciplinary research focus on the chemistry/biology of natural products, the analysis and expression of proteins and the targeted genetic manipulation of microorganisms has for many years provided excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary, sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation projects with partners from industry and science.
our contribution for DialogProTec
The interaction between plant and pathogen/fungus is determined or controlled by as yet unknown chemical communication signals between species. DialogProTec is driven by the question of which factors or molecules are exchanged between plants and pathogens and could contribute to disease development. In addition to identifying these signals - e.g. by activating this communication by switching on "silent" gene clusters (gene switches) in the fungus with plant signals - this interdisciplinary project will also identify reactions such as inducers of basal plant defense.
We identify and isolate novel fungal secondary metabolites, which are typically only produced in the plant, and characterize the resulting compounds with respect to their function in disease development, and provide the other partners with the respective fungal strains.
Project-relevant publications
Unravelling the biosynthesis of pyriculol in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. S. Jacob, T. Grötsch, A.J. Foster, A. Schüffler, P.H. Rieger, L.P. Sandjo, J.C. Liermann, T. Opatz, and E. Thines. Microbiology. 2017, 163, 541-553. doi:10.1099/mic.0.000396
Phytotoxic dioxolanone-type secondary metabolites from Guignardia bidwellii. I. Buckel, D. Molitor, J. C. Liermann, L. P. Sandjo, B. Berkelmann-Löhnertz, T. Opatz, E. Thines. Phytochemistry. 2013, 89, 96–103. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.01.004
Phytotoxic dioxolanones are potential virulence factors in the infection process of Guignardia bidwellii. I. Buckel, L. Andernach, A. Schüffler, M. Piepenbring, T. Opatz, and E. Thines. Scientific Reports. 2017, 7:8926. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09157-6
Staff
Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines, Head of the subproject
Dr. Stefan Jacob, Scientist
