Pathogenic fungi have a devastating impact on human nutrition and health. Our group aims to unravel the molecular and genetic bases of fungal pathogenicity. Our working model is Fusarium oxysporum, a soilborne pathogen causing vascular wilt disease on more than a hundred plant species, as well as systemic infections in immunocompromised humans.

We have established a unique multihost infection model based on a single isolate of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, which is able to cause disease on tomato plants as well as on immunodepressed mice and the non-vertebrate host Galleria. Targeted mutants in genes of interest can thus be assayed directly for virulence on plant and animal hosts. The availability of the complete genome sequence allows the application of genomic and proteomic approaches in addition to forward and reverse genetics. Using a variety of experimental strategies, our group has identified novel virulence determinants such as signalling components, transcription factors, cell wall remodelling enzymes and secreted proteins.