Fungal Evolutionary Genetics

In the CeTEB group Fungal Evolutionary Genetics we try to understand the evolutionary forces that shape fungal genomes. We focus on two main topics – the influence of accessory chromosomes on fungal genomes and the interaction between fungi and their (animal) host.

First, accessory chromosomes are whole chromosomes that may be absent in some individuals in a population and are therefore not essential. These chromosomes are found in many important (pathogenic) fungi. They can increase in frequency through a meiotic drive, can be transferred horizontally between species, and often directly affect the fitness of the fungus, making them an important force in the evolution of many fungi.

Second, organisms are associated with microbes – the so-called microbiome. The role of fungi as part of the microbiome is poorly understood. We use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to understand the genetic determinants of the interaction between an animal host and its associated fungi.