Introduction

The understanding of the detailed processes of microorgansims in soils and their involvement in biogeochemical cycles is largely unknown - termed frequently as “black box”. Besides bacteria, fungi play a crucial role in soil processes and element cycling, especially in forest ecosystems (i.e. soil organic matter degradation and turnover). My aim is to discover fungal functions on the molecular level (e.g. gene detection, expression and manipulation) for fungi as a functional group, but also for single species if possible. However, in future research these small steps of information on molecular level will provide a clearer picture of processes at ecosystem level.
Beside my research in the ecology of fungi, I’m also interested in potential biotechnological applications of several fungal genes (e.g. laccases and glycoside hydrolases, like xylanases & cellulases). Fungal genes are hereby especially of interest for breakdown of polymers and toxic waste or for synthesis of new compounds.
At the moment I´m working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Agricultural University of Gembloux [link], Microbiology Department.
 
Contact

Current publications (available upon request)

Kellner H., Luis P., Schlitt B., Buscot F. (2009): Temporal changes in diversity and expression patterns of fungal laccase genes within the organic horizon of a brown forest soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 41: 1380-1389.

Kellner H., Zak D.R. (2009): Detection of expressed fungal type I polyketide synthase genes in a forest soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 41: 1344-1347.

Kellner H., Luis P., Zimdars B., Kiesel B., Buscot F. (2008): Diversity of bacterial laccase-like multicopper oxidase genes in forest and grassland Cambisol soil samples. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 40: 638-648.

Kellner H., Jehmlich N., Benndorf D., Hoffmann R., Rühl M., Hoegger P.J., Majcherczyk A., Kües U., von Bergen M., Buscot F. (2007): Detection, quantification and identification of fungal extracellular laccases using polyclonal antibody and mass spectrometry. Enzymes and Microbial Technology 41: 694-701.

Kellner H., Luis P., Buscot F. (2007): Diversity of laccase-like multicopper oxidase (LMCO) genes in Morchellaceae: identification of genes potentially involved in extracellular activities related to plant litter decay. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 61: 153-163.

Luis P., Kellner H., Martin F., Buscot F. (2005): A molecular method to evaluate basidiomycete laccase gene expression in forest soils. Geoderma 128: 18-27.
 

Photography is my hobby, I have a separate webpage you can access here.
Or see my geotagged photos here.

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