Curriculum Vitae
2008 - present:
Post-doctoral research project
Biodegradation and Stress in the Phyllosphere
Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute for Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
2006 - 2008:
Post-doctoral research project
Microbial Colonization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Hyphae
Department of Fundamental Microbiology / Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
2001 - 2006:
PhD research project
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Symbiosis in Grassland - Identity, Function and Significance for Legumes
Department of Ecological Science, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2000 - 2001:
Research project, 6 months
Is the nodT gene of Rhizobium etli involved in Symbiosis Formation with Phaseolus vulgaris?
Institute of Biotechnology, University of Mexico (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico
1996 - 2000:
BSc and MSc in Biology
Specialization: Molecular Microbiology and Plant Physiology
Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
Projects
Biodegradation and stress in the phyllosphere
This research is part of the BACSIN project, which is a large collaborative project within the 7th framework program of the European Union. The aim of the project is to improve rational exploitation of the catabolic properties of bacteria for the treatment and prevention of environmental pollution. See www.unil.ch/bacsin for more information about BACSIN.
At the NIOO, we investigate the stress response and catabolic activity of bacteria on plant leaf surfaces (the phyllosphere). The phyllosphere is an environment that evokes high levels of stress related to rapid changes in humidity, temperature and radiation. Therefore, microbial colonizers of the phyllosphere are expected to be well adapted to stress conditions. Organic pollutants can accumulate on plant leaves via deposition or volatile absorption to the waxy cuticle. We investigate the occurence and activity of bacterial degraders of organic pollutants in the phyllosphere and study how they cope with phyllosphere stresses. We also explore possibilities to use phyllosphere bacteria to improve formulations.
Selected Publications
Scheublin T.R., Sanders I.R., Keel C., van der Meer J.R. (2010) Characterisation of microbial communities colonising the hyphal surfaces of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The ISME Journal 4: 752-763.
Scheublin T.R., van Logtestijn R.S.P., van der Heijden M.G.A. (2007) Presence and identity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influence competitive interactions between plant species. Journal of Ecology 95: 631-638.
van der Heijden M.G.A., Scheublin T.R. (2007) Functional traits in mycorrhizal ecology: their use for predicting the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities on plant growth and ecosystem functioning. New Phytologist 174: 244-250.
Scheublin T.R., van der Heijden M.G.A. (2006) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonize non-fixing root nodules of several legume species. New Phytologist 172: 732-738.
van der Heijden M.G.A., Bakker R., Verwaal J., Scheublin T.R., Rutten M., van Logtestijn R., Staehelin C. (2006) Symbiotic bacteria as a determinant of plant community structure and plant productivity in dune grassland. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 56: 178-187.
van der Heijden M.G.A., Scheublin T.R., Brader A. (2004) Taxonomic and functional diversity in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi – is there any relationship? New Phytologist 164: 201-204.
Scheublin T.R., Ridgway K.P., Young J.P.W., van der Heijden M.G.A. (2004) Nonlegumes, legumes and root nodules harbor different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 70: 6240-6246.
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