Role of carbohydrate-binding proteins and antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) in natural lichen and synthetic cross-kingdom communities (B02)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458090666

Lichens are among the most ancient and fascinating examples of complex microbial networking. In lichens, an algal or cyanobacterial photobiont tightly physically associates with a fungal mycobiont to establish an intimate mutualistic interaction. In this project, we will employ comparative genomics and transcriptomics to identify carbohydrate-binding proteins and antimicrobial proteins from a Peltigera mycobiont and uncover how they shape establishment and maintenance of a lichen community. Our approach will combine a biochemical and functional analysis of candidate proteins with their application in the establishment of a synthetic microbial consortium.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1535: Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Project Heads: Dr. Florian Altegoer; Professor Dr. Markus Pauly; Professor Dr. Bart Thomma; Professor Dr. Björn Usadel