We focus on Armillaria, Aspergillus and other fungi producing natural compounds

The associated Research Group Pharmaceutical Microbiology with its natural product-oriented research program links the Institute of Pharmacy at the Friedrich Schiller University with the Hans Knöll Institute. The group focuses on the genetic and biochemical basis of microbial secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

The group is a member of the Cooperative Research Center ChemBioSys in the Graduate School Jena School for Microbial Communication JSMC as well as in the International Leibniz Research School ILRS Mibintact.

Currently, research on the basidiomycetes (mushroom-type fungi) is emphasized. Natural product biosyntheses are investigated using selected model species and genera, including Armillaria, Ceriporiopsis, Psilocybe, and Serpula. The basidiomycetes represent a group of organisms that has received little attention yet regarding their biosynthetic pathways. Another focus area is the biotechnological production of natural products. Further, work is directed towards understanding their ecological function.

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Dirk Hoffmeister

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Markus Greßler

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News from the Leibniz-HKI

Part of the intestine of Caenorhabditis elegans under the microscope, enriched with malpinins. To take the picture, Constanze Schultz of Leibniz-IPHT used Fluorescence-Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) to optimally observe the tiny nematodes.

A fungus to save plants? The soil fungus Mortierella alpina has the potential to make agriculture greener and more sustainable: The fungus produces bioactive molecule… 01/09/2025 | Press release Read more

Close-up of a light brown toadstool in the forest. The fungus has high concentrations of the toxin muscarine.

The preparation makes the poison Mushrooms are existing in a breathtaking variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Especially in autumn, mushroom hunters are going into the forests to fin… 10/25/2024 | Press release Read more

An enzyme makes mushrooms “magical” An international research team has investigated the biosynthesis of psilocybin, the main ingredient of hallucinogenic mushrooms. They gained new insig… 04/15/2024 | Press release Read more

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Büttner H, Rassbach J, Schultz C, Popp J, Gressler M, Hertweck C (2024) Beneficial soil fungus kills predatory nematodes with dehydropeptides translocating into the animal gut. J Am Chem Soc 146(50), 34702-34710.

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Dellière S, Chauvin C, Wong SSW, Gressler M, Possetti V, Parente R, Fontaine T, Krüger T, Kniemeyer O, Bayry J, Carvalho A, Brakhage AA, Inforzato A, Latgé JP, Aimanianda V (2024) Interplay between host humoral pattern recognition molecules controls undue immuneresponses against Aspergillus fumigatus. Nat Commun 15(1), 6966.

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Dörner S, Trottmann F, Jordan P, Bartels B, Rogge K, Werz O, Hertweck C, Hoffmeister D (2024) The fatal mushroom neurotoxin muscarine is released from a harmless phosphorylated precursor upon cellular injury. Angew Chem Int Ed 63(52), e202417220.

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