Our research focusses on understanding the molecular secrets of intracellular infection of plant host cells by symbiotic microbes. Here, we would like to understand the mechanistic details of membrane and cell wall morpho-dynamics when symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) or arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi colonize the root to build symbiotic interfaces with the host. To address these exciting questions where apply advanced cell biology methods including fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM), biochemistry and genetics.
But we would like to take our results one step further and understand the minimal set of proteins that is required and sufficient to drive some of the unique dynamics during these mutualisms. For this, we engineer defined molecular modules and minimal genetic circuits and transfer them to non-host plants such as tomato. Our strong believe is that we only understand the full picture when getting the puzzle pieces together one after the other. This includes unravelling what core inventions occurred in legumes enabling them to establish the root nodule symbiosis and to understand genetic factors that have optimized the interaction over the last 65 million years.