Cell biology and Biotechnology

Biofilms formation in yeasts

Identification and analysis of new targets in fungal plant pathogens

Fungi are plant pathogens responsible for most infection and loss in crops. Control systems for fungal infection are not developed and most antifungal compounds are environmental contaminants and are not totally efficient. It is now important to develop new strategies to avoid fungal infection based on identification of new compounds or new targets. In the last years, our group has been involved in the analysis of the mechanism of action for Osmotin, a tobacco antifungal protein, using S. cerevisiae as model. We are now focussed in studding the role for protein glycosylation in Ustilago maydis infection, mainly in the dimorphic switch that occur during the infection as well as during the interaction with the plant. The analysis of the expression of genes required for this dimorphic switch is also been analysed in our lab.