Characterization of a novel anaerobic gut fungal strain isolated from Octodon degus
Student/in: Eva-Maria Kofer, BSc
Termin: 15.09.2026, 14:00 Uhr
Ort: Hörsaal F
1. Prüfer/in: Dr. Priv. Doz. Sabine Marie Podmirseg
2. Prüfer/in: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Ursula Peintner
Vorsitzende/r: Mag. Dr. Priv.-Doz. Andreas Wagner
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Abstract
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.