RESEARCH FELLOW
valentino.guastaferro(AT)ipsp.cnr.it
publications: Orcid
personal details and research activity: People
Curriculum Vitae
During my master’s degree I focused on the study of the beneficial interaction between Trichoderma – Brachypodium Distachyon through a molecular approach. In particular, the epigeal and hypogeal portions, taken separately from the plant, were used for the purpose of extracting RNA and sequencing it. The analysis of RNA-Seq data led to the identification of genes up- and down-regulated during the interaction of the plant with two different strains of Trichoderma. This work aims to identify genes to be used to generate transgenic plants that are more productive. During my PhD, however, I focused on the study of host sensing in the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum through a molecular approach. In particular, through comparisons with databases, several genes responsible for the perception of surfaces have been identified in the Fusarium genome. Through a reverse genetics approach we then replaced the Ham7, CDC42, Wsc1 or Mid1 genes in the Fusarium genome with an antifungal resistance cassette, using the Split-Marker technique. The obtained knock-out mutants were then tested for their virulence in tomato plants and in the regulation of several virulence-related traits including: stress response, hyphal agglutination, adhesion to host tissue, penetration, surface sensing. Subsequently, the knock-out mutants were transformed again in order to express the GFP protein at the cytoplasmic level to carry out confocal microscopy studies in micro and nanofluidic devices both at the Institute Jacques Monod – Cnrs University Paris City and on site. Finally, complemented ones were generated from the knock-out mutants so as to be certain that the observed phenotypes are truly related to the absence of the gene considered.