Seminar of the Department of Microbiology
MSc Student Session 4
Julia Nagler – MSc candidate – UIBK – Mykologie
Ute Lackinger – MSc candidate – UIBK – Mykologie
Valaina Lechner – MSc candidate – UIBK – Mykologie
05.06.2025, 11:00
- Join online
- or in presence: Seminarraum Biologie - (Technikerstr. 25, Viktor-Franz-Hess Haus, Parterre)
Abstracts
Nagler: Assessment of the applicability of different fluorescent proteins in Trichoderma atroviride
Trichoderma is a widespread genus of ascomycete fungi found in diverse ecosystems and is particularly valued in agriculture as a biological control agent. A specific example of Trichoderma’s effects is seen in the species Trichoderma atroviride. T. atroviride not only promotes plant growth and enhances plant immune responses but also acts directly against phytopathogens. Despite its importance, many aspects of T. atroviride’s cellular processes and stress responses remain poorly understood.
Fluorescence microscopy has become a central tool for studying fungal cell biology. While a wide range of optimized fluorophores exists for animal and yeast systems, the options for filamentous fungi like Trichoderma are still largely limited to GFP and mCherry.
The aim of this work is to identify and evaluate new fluorescent proteins (fluorophores) for T. atroviride that offer distinct spectral properties. Using molecular techniques such as plasmid construction and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation, mutant strains expressing different fluorescent proteins have been generated and analyzed. After verifying the expression and evaluating the fluorescence properties, selected fluorophores have been fused to specific cellular localization signals to enable simultaneous multicolor visualization of various subcellular compartments.
Lackinger: Ectomycorrhizal fungi recovery in subalpine forest ecosystem
In my Master’s thesis, I investigate how ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi recover after long-term drought in a subalpine forest ecosystem. Using data from a rainout shelter experiment that lasted eight years, I analyze changes in ECM diversity and key soil parameters one year into the recovery phase. This work contributes to a better understanding of forest resilience under future climate extremes.
Lechner: Fruiting dynamics in a drought-stressed alpine site and a taxonomic revision of ectomycorrhiza fungi Cortinarius and the Olivaceofuscus clade
Drought is increasingly becoming a stress factor for a wide variety of organisms, including fungi. In order to investigate the effect of drought on a forest site at Kaserstattalm in the tyrolean Stubai valley three rainout plots (drought simulation) and three control plots (no intervention) were established between 2015 and 2023. The so-called recovery phase took place in 2024. The aim is to analyse the effect of this eight-year long drought on fungal fruiting body production in this habitat. During the recovery phase, I collect fungal fruiting bodies from all plots. For species identification microscopic, macroscopic and molecular methods are used. I compare these data with existing mycorrhizal data and molecular data on soil fungal communities. The statistical analysis should show whether the drought had a lasting effect on the fruiting body production of fungi in this area.
What I am also going to present are the results of another topic: The genus Cortinarius is a very species-rich genus which is divided into several subgenera, including the subgenus Dermocybe. Because of the colourful fruiting bodies Dermocybe traditionally was grouped by pigmentation. To revise the phylogeny, morphology and pigment chemistry of the Olivaceofuscus Clade (“the green ones”) a multigene phylogenetic tree is generated, basidiospores are microscoped and HPTLC for pigment identification is carried out.