Two junior research groups at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI) are collaborating to investigate fungi of the genus Fusarium, combining automated screening technologies with genetic analysis to advance the search for new antifungal compounds.
Fusarium species are classified by the World Health Organization as problematic pathogens due to their ability to infect plants, animals, and humans. They pose particular risks to immunocompromised individuals and are increasingly associated with infections that are difficult to treat because of resistance to commonly used antifungal drugs.
The collaboration, known as FUSION, brings together the research group led by Luzia Gyr, which focuses on robotic-assisted discovery of anti-infectives, and the group led by Slavica Janevska, which studies the genetic regulation of fungal virulence. The project integrates high-throughput experimental methods with genomic approaches to identify both compounds that act against Fusarium and bioactive molecules produced by the fungi themselves.
Gyr’s team uses an automated platform called JenXplor to test large numbers of natural and synthetic compounds for antifungal activity. The system enables high-throughput screening under varied conditions and supports early identification of potential drug candidates. As part of the joint effort, filamentous human-pathogenic fungi have been incorporated into the platform, requiring methodological adjustments due to their growth patterns and spore formation.
The screening work draws on an extensive natural product library maintained at Leibniz-HKI, which is being systematically evaluated for activity against Fusarium species. The approach is designed to detect compounds that may not be identified through conventional laboratory methods.
Janevska’s group contributes genetic and biochemical expertise by analyzing biosynthetic gene clusters within Fusarium genomes. These clusters encode the production of secondary metabolites, many of which remain inactive under standard laboratory conditions. By modifying cultivation environments or introducing co-cultures with other microorganisms, the researchers aim to activate these “silent” pathways and uncover previously unobserved compounds.
Fusarium species are considered a potential source of chemically diverse secondary metabolites, which in natural environments serve roles such as defense and communication. The project seeks to explore this underexamined resource for possible therapeutic applications.
The collaboration also involves systematic comparison of cultivation conditions and the study of newly isolated fungal strains, including samples obtained from the Thuringia region. The combined use of microbiological, chemical, and genomic methods is intended to expand understanding of Fusarium biology while supporting compound discovery.
Beyond identifying new antifungal agents, the researchers aim to develop experimental and analytical frameworks that can be applied to other microorganisms. Potential applications include both human medicine and agricultural plant protection.
The project is funded by the Free State of Thuringia with support from the European Social Fund Plus. An industrial advisory board, including representatives from Analytik Jena, Basilea Pharmaceutica International, Bright Giant, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, and Jena Bioscience, provides guidance on potential applications of the research outcomes.
Photo credit: Leibniz-HKI
