CBS-KNAW fungal biodiversity centre
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Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures

Utrecht, The Netherlands

Jan Dijksterhuis

Curriculum vitae

Interests: Food fungi, Industrial Mycology, The fungal cell, Microscopy, Heat-resistant fungi, Fungal spore biology, Post-harvest diseases.

Education

  • University of Groningen, doctorate in (micro)biology with two research projects namely, “Localisation of enzymes in microbodies of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha” (eukaryotic microbiology) and “Auto-antibodies in the disease Myasthenia gravis”(clinical immunology).
  • Ph.D (12 November 1993) at the same University on the biology of nematode destroying fungi (Promotor, Prof W. Harder and referent, Dr. M. Veenhuis). Initially, the life-cycle of an almost obligatory parasite of nematodes namely, Drechmeria coniospora was studied. In addition the fungi Arthrobotrys oligospora and Verticillium balanoides were addressed. The dependency of the fungus for nematodes indicated a possible use for biological control of plant-pathogenic nematodes. Our rationale was that a solid fundamental knowledge of the organism and the infection process was a prerequisite for application of the organism.

Professional career

  • In September 1993 I joined the group of Dr. E.J. Smid at the Agrotechnological Research Institute at Wageningen, The Netherlands. I investigated the probability of biological control of (fungal) storage-diseases of flower bulbs by means of antagonistic bacteria on different types of flower bulbs. In addition, on lab scale we studied the interaction between the plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum and Paenibacillus polymyxa. The results made clear that the adhesion of the bacterium to the fungal hyphae during the interaction process is important for the process of antibiosis.
  • From April to December 1997 I worked at the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology (ICMB) at the University of Edinburgh with Dr. J.W. Deacon on an EERO (European Environmental Research Organisation) Award. We studied the process of encystment of the plantpathogenic fungus Phytophthora palmivora. Zoospores of this fungus are very responsive to environmental cues and knowledge of this relation can be applied into irrigation systems or crop nurseries were these fungi cause several plant diseases.
  • Between 1 December 1997 and March 1999 I worked with the group of Dr. N.D. Read (also at Edinburgh University) on a Leverhulme Grant. Here I studied tip growth in living fungal cells (rust fungi as Uromyces vignae and Puccinia graminis and Rhizoctonia solani) by means of confocal microscopy and the fluorescent dye FM 4-64. We followed the fate of the Spitzenkörper on and observed that apical clouds are disappearing and reappearing during the process of appressorium formation. During later stages of the project I developed a method to calculate the flux of membrane vesicles through the Spk of a growing hyphal tip of Rhizoctonia solani.

(Germinating ascospores of T. macrosporus)

  • In May 1999 I returned to the ATO to work on spoilage fungi on behalf of a project for WCFS (Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences). Talaromyces macrosporus forms ascospores that survive pasteurisation treatments and are the most resilient eukaryotic cells described today. Ascospores are dense (1.3 gr/ml), relatively dry (0.6 gr H2O/gr dry weight) and packed with trehalose (9-17% fresh weight). These spores only germinate after a rigorous heat treatment. After 160-200 min, the protoplast encompassed by the inner cell wall was ejected through the outer cell wall in a very quick process. Subsequently, respiration of spores increased strongly. During this project we collaborated with Drs F. Hoekstra and E.A. Golovina (Plant Physiology, Wageningen University).
  • From 1 November 2001 on I joined the group of Dr. R.A. Samson at the CBS to study food spoilage fungi. The work on Talaromyces macrosporus ascospores is continued from that time on and different studies published. Furthermore, projects on germination of Fusarium culmorum macroconidia and communication factors between conidia of Penicillium paneum are done during the period between 2001-2003. Research collaborations between groups of Utrecht University (Prof Dr Wösten, Dr L. Lugones, H. Deelstra MSc.) and Wageningen University (Dr F.H. Hoekstra, Dr Golovina, Dr Chitarra, Dr. T. Abee) are established.
  • In Februari 2005 a research project started on the mode of action of the antifungal compound natamycine on food fungi in collaboration with the group of Prof. B. de Kruijf and Dr. E. Breukink of Biochemistry at the University of Utrecht. Novel insights on germination of conidia of Penicillium discolor will be published soon. The project is manned by M.R. van Leeuwen. In the same year work was started on the prevention of infection of tulip bulb by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum.

(Comparison between the germination of conidia of Penicillium(top) and ascospores of Talaromyces)
Selected references

  • Dijksterhuis, J., Veenhuis, M. & Harder, W. (1990). Ultrastructural study of adhesion and initial stages of infection of nematodes by conidiospores of Drechmeria coniospora. Mycological Research 94, 1-8.
  • Dijksterhuis, J., Veenhuis, M., Harder, W. & Norbring-Hertz, B. (1994). Nematophagous fungi: Physiological aspects and structure-function relationships. Advances in Microbial Physiology 36, 111-143.
  • Dijksterhuis, J., Sanders, M., Gorris, L.G.M. & Smid, E.J. (1999) Antibiosis plays a role in the context of direct interaction during antagonism of Paenibacillus polymyxa towards Fusarium oxysporum. Journal of Applied Microbiology 89, 13-21.
  • Fisher-Parton, S., Parton, R.M., Hickey, P.C., Dijksterhuis, J., Atkinson, H.A. & Read, N.D. (2000) Confocal Microscopy of FM 4-64 as a tool for analysing endocytosis and vesicle trafficking in living fungal hyphae. Journal of Microscopy 198, 246-259.
  • Dijksterhuis, J., van Driel, K., Sanders, M., Houbraken, J., Molenaar, D., Samson, R.A. & Kets, E.P.W. (2002) Glucose efflux and cell ejection during germination of heat activated ascospores of Talaromyces macrosporus. Archives of Microbiology 178, 1-7.
  • Dijksterhuis, J. & Samson, R.A. (2002) Food and crop spoilage on storage. P. 39-52. In F. Kempken (ed.), The Mycota. Vol XI Agricultural Applications. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany.
  • Dijksterhuis, J & Deacon, J.W. (2003) Defective zoospore encystment and suppressed cyst germination of Phytophthora palmivora caused by transient leaching treatments. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 83 (3): 235-243.
  • Chitarra, G.S., Abee, T., Rombouts, F.M., Posthumus, M.A. & Dijksterhuis, J. (2004) Germination of Penicillium paneum conidia is regulated by a volatile self-inhibitor. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 70 (5):2823-2829.
  • Chitarra, G.S., Breeuwer, P., Rombouts, F.M.,  Abee, T & Dijksterhuis, J. (2005) Differentiation inside multicelled macroconidia of Fusarium culmorum during early germination. Fungal Genetics and Biology 42: 694-703.
  • Chitarra, G.S., Abee, T., Rombouts, F.M. & Dijksterhuis, J. (2005) Mode of action of the volatile self inhibitor 1-octen-3-ol on conidia of Penicillium paneum. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 54 (1): 67-75.
  • Dijksterhuis, J., Nijsse, J., Hoekstra, F. A. & Golovina, E. A. (2007) High viscosity and anisotropy characterise the cytoplasm of dormant stress-resistant spores. Eukaryotic Cell 6:157-170.
  • Dijksterhuis, J. & Samson, R.A. (2007) Food Mycology: A multifaceted look at fungi and food.CRC press, Taylor and Francis group, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. ISBN-13:978-0-8493-9818-6, 403 pp.
  • Leeuwen, M.R. van, Smant, W.,  Boer, W. de, & Dijksterhuis, J. (2008). Filipin monitors in situ the presence of an ergosterol cap in germinating conidia of Penicillium discolor. Journal of Microbiological Methods. In press.