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Radka Koncitikova

Radka Koncitikova’s first interest was the structural biology of plant hormones in relation to biotic stresses (Ph.D. Plant biochemistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czechia). During her post-doc in Marseilles, she discovered the fungal phytopathogens universe (ISM2-CNRS lab). In collaboration with (BBF-INRAE Lab), she decided to study protein-protein interactions related to pathogenicity


Host University: Aix Marseille University, France

Host research group or department: Fungal Biodiversity and Biotechnology Lab - BBF

Co-host University: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Secondment institution: National Technical University of Athens, NTUA, Greece

Advisor: Dr. Jean-Guy Berrin

Co-advisor: Dr. Dimitris G. Hatzinikolaou

Secondment mentor: Dr. Evangelos Tapakas

Radka Koncitikova
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My research

Investigating the interplay between a pair of fungal Metalloenzymes to control phytoPAthogeniCiTy (IMPACT)

Global food security is endangered by fungal phytopathogens causing devastating production losses. Colletotrichum and Magnaporthe fungi, which are responsible for a disease called anthracnose, use specialized appressoria cells to puncture plant cuticles. Preliminary studies have unveiled a pair of fungal metalloenzymes to be essential for pathogenicity of anthracnose. More precisely, a secreted copper radical alcohol oxidase (CRO-AlcOx) is activated by a peroxidase (PerOx) but the underlying mechanism and interplay are unknown. This finely tuned cooperation appears to be important in terms of pathogenicity because their synergy is behind the success of host colonization. The IMPACT project aims at combining different biochemical and biophysical approaches to clarify the natural partnership between two metalloenzymes and the mechanism of CRO-AlcOx activation, which is essential for fungal pathogenesis through oxidation of plant cuticle long chain alcohols. These results should pave the way to prevent crop infestation at very early steps (penetration) thus providing new and efficient ways for plant protection.



Date started – Date End

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024