Towards a genome-wide virulence factor map of a gall-inducing fungus

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Armin Djamei
• Subject Area: Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems ; General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 435107456

Over the last decades, the maize-infecting pathogen Ustilago maydis became a model for biotrophic plant fungal interactions. Although it is one of the best studied fungal pathogens, 40% of its genes encode for proteins of unknown function and we are far from understanding how this pathogen establishes inside its host plant. We developed innovative methodologies to generate transposon mutant libraries and to perform negative selection screens with thousands of mutants to identify genome-wide genes with importance to pathogenicity of the fungus. Transgenic haploid strains that mimic different stages of the infection process in axenic culture will be used to generate transposon mutant libraries and to screen these by negative selection pooled mutant screens. The major goal of the project is the generation of a genome-wide virulence factor map to enhance our understanding of biotrophy. On our way towards this goal, new resources and knowledge will be generated like genome wide transposon mutant libraries that will be open to screen for other interesting aspects of the lifecycle of U. maydis. As side knowledge lists of all essential genes of this important basidiomycete and the identification of genes involved in b-dependent filament formation of this smut are expected results.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants