Together with my team we study:
1)    Feeding of mushrooms, to understand optimal substrate utilization and transport to mushrooms, to enhance yield.
2)    Antifungal microbial compounds and their mode of action, to develop a novel antifungal medicine for clinical use.
3)    Cellular heterogeneity and its mechanistic basis, impacting fungal disease treatment and optimal enzyme production.
 

Optimally feeding of mushrooms for sustainable food production

We study network formation in the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus and long distance nutrient transport within this network and to the mushrooms. To this end, I develop(ed) various imaging and quantitative techniques. I closely collaborate with the Mushroom Industry to translate scientific findings into practical solutions. For instance, we are currently performing tests with industry to improve water holding capacity of alternative casing soils. This IP has been patented.

Radioactively labelled nutrient transport to mushroom.

The fungal network architecture is composed of fine single hyphae and large hyphal aggregates (cords) that facilitate bulk transport to zones of growth.

A flush of mushrooms.

Antifungal microbial compounds

I collaborate with multiple disciplines to test and develop novel antifungal compounds. 

Recently, in my lab we identified a class of compounds that is secreted by bacteria and fungi. We found that these compounds have antifungal activity against azole-resistant human invasive pathogens, such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Candia species. Currently we study their mode of action. I recently filed a patent on this invention. We aim to develop these fungicidal compounds for the treatment of clinical invasive fungal infections.

Cellular heterogeneity

In Aspergillus, we study underlying mechanisms how cellular heterogeneity is regulated and what impact is has on the productivity of the colony as a whole, regarding enzyme production. Additionally, we study how cellular heterogeneity impacts survival of individual filaments during adverse conditions, such as antifungal treatment.