Specialized metabolites in plants
Plant metabolism is usually differentiated into primary and secondary metabolism. Secondary metabolites (also known as natural products, phytochemicals or specialized metabolites) underpin important plant traits (e.g. resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, nutritional quality and flavour).
Plant- Microbe Interactions
Research in the lab focuses on endophytes-bacteria and fungi that live inter- and intracellularly in plants without inducing pathogenic symptoms and interact with the host biochemically and genetically.
Microbial degradation of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in soil: genetic mechanisms and biotechnological exploitation
Microbial degradation constitutes the main process controlling the environmental dissipation of organophosphate and carbamate soil insecticides/nematicides.
Microbial degradation of pesticides contained in wastewaters from fruit-packaging plants: metabolic pathways, genetic mechanisms and potential applications
Postharvest treatment of fruits involves drenching or spraying with fungicides like thiabendazole, imazalil, ortho-phenylphenol and preservatives like diphenylamine and ethoxyquin.
Biodepuration systems for the decontamination of pesticide contaminated wastewaters from on-farm and off -farm activities
Point source contamination accounts for more than 60% of the contamination of natural water resources with pesticides.
Toxicity of pesticides on soil microbes: new risk assessment procedures for standardized risk assessment
Toxicity of pesticides onto non target organisms is an indispensable part of the pesticide regulatory framework.
Synthetic microbial ecology, synthetic biology and functional metagenomics to optimize bioremediation processess
Functional metagenomics constitute a powerful molecular tool which has facilitated the isolation of novel enzymes with high biotechnological interest.
Plants microbiome: its role and its interactions with the agricultural environment
Phyllosphere constitutes a harsh environment for microbes. Recent studies showed that the epiphytic bacterial and fungal community are quite diverse and carry significant functional traits like nitrogen fixation, methanol utilization and degradation of organic pollutants.
Basic processes driving the environmental fate of pesticides in soil
Pesticides are common contaminants of natural water resources. After its introduction in soil pesticides dissipation is controlled by basic processes including degradation, biotic or abiotic, adsorption, volatilization and leaching.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Their ecological role, function and diversity in agricultural and non agricultural ecosystems
Plant symbiosis with AM fungi is very extensive in nature, most higher plants being mycorrhizal, and it is known to improve plant growth and nutrition, particularly regarding phosphorus but also to ameliorate drought stress and provide protection from pathogens.
N-cycling and nitrification inhibitors: In vitro and in soil assessment of their spectrum of activity and mode of action
Nitrification is the rate-limiting step of N cycling. It is performed in two successive steps by ammonia oxidizing bacteria (ΑΟΒ) or archaea (ΑΟΑ), and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (ΝΟΒ). Recently, bacteria of the genus Nitrospira sp. (formerly known as ΝΟΒ) were found to be able to perform the complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, and they were named Comammox (Complete-ammonia-oxidation).
Biodegradation of veterinary drugs (antibiotics and anthelmintics) as a method for alleviating environmental contamination and ARGs dispersal
Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) and anthelmintics (AHs) are used to control microbial and parasitic infestations in livestock farming respectively. These compounds are not metabolized in the animals' body and animal excretes containing VAs and AHs are used as soil manures facilitating the dispersion of VA and AHs residues to agricultural soils.