In a screening test of several different mushroom extracts for insecticidal activity against the model organism fruit fly we found the clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis) extract to show the most potent effect. Affinity chromatography was used to isolate different lectins, the carbohydrate-binding proteins, from this mushroom. Furthermore, we have determined that their insecticidal activity is dependant on their binding of specific carbohydrates. Therefore, different lectins exhibiting different carbohydrate binding specificity displayed different levels of toxicity against tested organisms: fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), mosquito (Aedes aegypti), amoeba (Acanthamoeba casteallanii), and nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans). The selected lectin CNL from Clitocybe nebularis showed the most potent toxicity against the fruit fly and mosquito larvae, was toxic against Colorado potato beetle larvae, while toxicity against amoeba and nemtaodes was weaker. Results were published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (IF 3,9), Molecular Ecology (IF 6,5) and Biochemie.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24686375
We established a new transcriptome functional screening method for the identification of genes, that can increase the stress tolerance in recipient organisms. We used this method to investigate the transcriptome of the halotolerant fungus Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. We identified and further analyzed twelve genes that can increase the halotolerance of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These genes are promising targets for transfer to other economically important organisms and improving their growth at elevated salt concentrations. The article was published in the first journal of the corresponding field (SCI).
COBISS.SI-ID: 2514255
We were invited to write a book on GMO detection in the series Springer Briefs in Food, Health and Nutrition. This Brief provides the current state-of-the-art on all key topics involved in GMO testing and is a source of detailed practical information for laboratories. Special focus is given to qualitative and quantitative real-time PCR analysis relevant to all areas where detection and identification rely on nucleic acid-based methods. The following topics, important for testing laboratories, are also discussed: organization of the laboratory, focusing on aspects of the quality system and methods for testing, validation and verification of methods, and measurement uncertainty. The Brief also discusses the new challenges of GMOs and novel modified organisms, using new technologies, and the possible solutions for GMO detection, including bioinformatics tools. Finally, legislation on GMOs and sources of information on GMOs are provided, which are relevant not only to testing laboratories, but to anyone interested in GMOs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2460239