Calendar Name:	seminars
Scheduled for:	Thursday, March 22 2012, 11:00 - 12:30
Event text:	Prof Bruno Cammue Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics Department of Microbial & Molecular Systems K.U.Leuven Leuven BELGIUM
Details:	?From basic plant pathology research to fungal disease control in plants and humans? ABSTRACT Early research at the ?Plant-Fungus Interaction? group of the Center of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG-PFI) on novel antifungal plant proteins has led to the discovery of the so-called plant defensins (PDFs), basic peptides with antimicrobial activities. Subsequent research at CMPG-PFI focused in one research unit on the function of these PDFs in planta, including their possible role in the plant?s defense against necrotrophic fungi, and was recently extended to other novel stress-induced peptides. In the other research unit, the mode of antifungal activity of these PDFs was studied. Based on that expertise CMPG-PFI developed a platform for the discovery of novel antifungals with potential applications in agriculture, material protection and medical applications. The latter include treatment of fungal biofilms and the development of next-generation implants.