Künzler Lab Research
Current research projects aim at the molecular characterization of the defense mechanisms of fungi against bacterial competitors and animal predators with special emphasis on the regulation of these mechanisms.
In order to achieve this goal, we take an experimental and reductionistic approach in that we confront model fungi and model antagonists under laboratory conditions and study these inter-kingdom interactions at macroscopic, microscopic and molecular level. Currently used model organisms are, on the fungal side, the inkcap mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea, and on the antagonist side, the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively, and the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchus avenae. We use microfluidics devices to direct the interactions and the microscopic and molecular analysis of these interactions to specific parts of the fungal mycelium.