Seminar of the Department of Microbiology
MSc Student Session 2
Kofler Eva-Maria – MSc candidate - UIBK
Sara Aydin – MSc candidate – UIBK
Annemiek Mugge - MSc candidate – Leiden University
19.03.2026, 11:00
- Join online
- or in presence: Seminarraum Biologie - (Technikerstr. 25, Viktor-Franz-Hess Haus, Parterre)
Abstracts
Kofler: Characterization of a novel AGF strain isolated from Octodon degus
Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, phylum Neocallimastigomycota) are residents of anaerobic environments and can be found in the gastrointestinal tract of a broad selection of domesticated and wild herbivores. Their ability to break down plant material, degrading lignocellulosic biomass through physical approach and the utilization of specialized enzymes, make AGF ideal components of host microbial biomass (Hess, et al., 2020). As of now, 36 species of AGF within 22 genera (Pratt, et al., 2024) are recognized. However, the phylogenetic and evolutionary inter- and intra- genus relationships between AGF genera remain relatively poorly understood due to a lack of sequence data, unavailability of culture collections, missing reference strains and insufficient phenotypical and microscopical data (Hanafy, et al., 2022). Still, criteria for identification and characterization, as well as guidelines for genus- and species-level rank assignment for novel AGF isolates have already been formulated (Elshahed, et al., 2022). To tie in with this work, novel AGF strains and their co-microbiome – isolated from Degu – will be characterized and quantified in this study. Both microbiological, as well as a variety of molecular microbiological will be employed.
Aydin: Deeper insights into Are1 localization in Trichoderma atroviride
Trichoderma atroviride is a filamentous fungus widely used as a biological control agent due to its ability to antagonize plant pathogens and produce a variety of secondary metabolites. A key regulator involved in these processes is the GATA transcription factor Are1, which plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism and has been linked to fungal growth, stress response and mycoparasitism. The aim of this project is to further characterize the role of Are1 by generating fluorescently tagged versions of the protein. For this purpose, constructs containing the are1 gene fused to fluorescent proteins are introduced into T. atroviride. Transformant strains are generated and used for fluorescence microscopy as well as phenotypic characterization assays, including growth on different nitrogen sources and interaction assays with plant pathogenic fungi. These approaches provide a basis for studying the localization and regulatory role of Are1 in this important fungal model organism.
Mugge: Functional Characterization of the Transcription Factor Are1 and Optimization of a Tet-On Inducible Expression System in Trichoderma atroviride
Current agriculture practices rely heavily on chemicals, showing the importance for new sustainable approaches. One promising approach is the use of microorganisms in the rhizosphere, such as Trichoderma atroviride. T. atroviride is a filamentous fungus known to improve plant growth and has mycoparasitism activity, thereby protecting the plant from pathogens. In T. atroviride, the transcription factor Are1 has been identify as an important regulator for nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR), mycoparasitism and secondary metabolite production. However, deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of this fungus is needed to be able to exploit this organism. In this study, phenotypic characterization were performed on strains that containing Are1 fused to a fluorophore to identify if Are1-tagged to a fluorophore is affecting the function of Are1. Phenotypic assays with different nitrogen sources and prey fungi were performed on wild-type P1, Δare1, and are1-fluorophose strains. Furthermore an optimized version of the Tet-On system was construct, enabling an inducible expression of Are1. This will allow for inducible overexpression of Are1, providing insight of the secondary metabolites regulated by this transcription factor. Thereby contributing to a new insights of the regulation mechanisms and improves development of a more sustainable agriculture strategies based on microorganisms.