The mold Trichoderma under the light microscope.
Fungal research finds its applications in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology and building biology, among others. At the University of Innsbruck and the Medical University of Innsbruck, fungi are also being intensively researched in all their diversity. And with the “16th Conference on Fungal Genetics” mushroom experts from all over the world will come together in Innsbruck next week.
Fungi provide valuable medicines such as penicillin, while at the same time infecting us as pathogens. Some are a valuable source of food, others destroy crops. They make houses uninhabitable and provide building materials. Just as diverse as the world of mushrooms is their science, mycology.
This is shown by the example of the siderophores alone. These molecules are secreted by fungi to provide them with essential iron. Siderophores are researched at the University of Innsbruck and the Medical University of Innsbruck – and are used both in organic crop protection and in human medicine.
Organic crop protection and cancer diagnostics
At the Institute for Microbiology at the University of Innsbruck, Prof. Susanne Zeilinger-Migsich’s working group is researching the mold Trichoderma. This occurs in the soil and is what is known as a mycoparasite: a fungus that infects and feeds on other fungi. This makes it interesting for agriculture, because as a natural crop protection, Trichoderma can fight other fungi that would otherwise infect plants. The man-made climate crisis is making new fungal pests, for which native plants are not prepared, a growing problem for food security. That is why adaptable and environmentally friendly protective agents such as Trichoderma are becoming increasingly important.
In the fight once morest fungus, the iron-binding siderophores play a central role, because iron is essential for life, but the usable amounts in the soil are small. On the one hand, siderophores and other metabolites, some of which are antibiotics, function like a chemical language that fungi use to communicate with one another. On the other hand, these substances are also used to fight for resources such as nutrients and iron. “By studying siderophore formation and the genes associated with it, we want to better understand how Trichoderma attacks harmful fungi. This would enable us to breed improved strains that will lead to even better crop protection in the future,” says Zeilinger-Migsich.
At the Institute for Molecular Biology at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Prof. Hubertus Haas’ working group is investigating these substances from a medical point of view. “Around 1.5 million people die from fungal infections every year,” says Haas. “For people with a weakened immune system, there is a high risk of life-threatening infections with the mold Aspergillus fumigatus, known as aspergillosis. Diagnosing and treating such an infection remains a challenge.”
But: research into the iron metabolism of fungi promises new possibilities for the therapy and diagnosis of fungal diseases. It was shown that Aspergillus fumigatus needs siderophores in order to be able to spread in the event of an infection. Substances that inhibit the production of siderophores might therefore serve as drugs once morest fungal infections. Furthermore, it might be shown that siderophores might also be useful for the diagnosis of fungal diseases, either by detecting the siderophores excreted by the fungus in the urine or by imaging detection of fungal infections using so-called positron emission tomography (PET), a detection method as known from cancer diagnostics. To do this, siderophores are manipulated in such a way that they do not bind iron, but gallium, which is recognized by PET.
International Congress meets in Innsbruck
The tremendous diversity of mycology, illustrated here with just one example, will take place next week between March 5th and 8th at the 16th European Conference on Fungal Genetics together at the Congress Innsbruck. Leading international experts and young scientists exchange views on the latest research here. The conference has a tradition of more than 30 years and is the largest event in Europe in this field with an average of around 800 international participants. This year it is organized by Susanne Zeilinger-Migsich and Hubertus Haas on behalf of the two universities and the Congress Innsbruck.
At the University of Innsbruck, the mycological focus goes back to the 1970s. Numerous scientists from the two Innsbruck universities are therefore also represented in the local scientific committee and involved in the organization of the ECFG16.
“We are delighted that we have succeeded in bringing this renowned conference to lnnsbruck,” says Zeilinger-Migsich. “On the one hand, this is due to the attractiveness of our location, but certainly also to the above-average number of scientific working groups at the University of Innsbruck and the Medical University that deal with various aspects of fungi.”
The numerous lectures and workshops revolve around evolution and biodiversity, biotechnology, interactions with humans, animals, plants and other fungi, cell biology, metabolism and physiology, diseases and drugs, molecular tools, genetics and epigenetics.
The participation of scientists and experts working in industry will also lay the foundation for the important cooperation between science and the biotechnological industry through new contacts.
“The fact that the 16th conference is taking place in Innsbruck will further strengthen the scientific location of Tyrol with its internationally renowned institutions active in mushroom research and promote the expansion of national and international research cooperation,” says Zeilinger-Migsich.
