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.