Fusarium genome

This project part focuses on the bioinformatic analysis of fungal and plant genomes as well as integration of expression data. On the fungal part we aim to complete and improve the annotation of Fusarium genomes. This will be achieved by automatic and manual comparative gene calling methods. The main focus in the analysis is the identification of new targets in particular of fungal secondary metabolite and mycotoxin clusters. Expression data, functional annotation and putative regulatory motifs are all integrated to explore the pathogen-host interaction.

The model plant Brachypodium distachyon will be annotated. The Brachypodium genome will sub-sequentially be used as a model for the closely related but much more complex and larger genomes of barley and wheat although their genomes are currently not fully sequenced. Specific targets of interest are UDP-glucosyltransferases, acetyltransferases among others. They will be first identified in the model genome and via homology and synteny driven orthology assignments counterparts in the crop  genomes will be identified and knowledge transferred to the more complex genomes.