Droevendaalsesteeg 10
6708 PB Wageningen
The Netherlands
Paolina Garbeva
About
Microbial communities are largely shaped by chemical interaction networks mediated by specialized water-soluble and/or volatile metabolites
Biography
The focus of my current research is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of microbial chemical interactions and communication. Secondary metabolites (both volatile and water-soluble) play an important role in microbial interactions, e.g. as signalling compounds for communication or as suppressive agents in interference competition.
Using omics-based tools, advanced analytical chemistry and novel imaging techniques, my research aims to decipher, explore and exploit the so far unknown belowground microbe-microbe and plant-microbe chemical interactions and communication. Understanding the belowground inter-kingdom (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants) interactions is crucial for assessing the functioning of soil ecosystems, which underpins soil and plant health.
Research groups
CV
Employment
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2015–PresentSenior Scientist and Researcher group leader at NIOO-KNAW
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2013–2015Tenure track position within the Department of Microbial Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, VIDI personal grant (NWO)
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2013–2006Postdoctoral researcher within the Department of Microbial Ecology, VENI and MEERVOUD personal grants (NWO)
Education
2000–2005
PhD degree Leiden University, the Netherlands
Projects & collaborations
Projects
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Microp- Stress-induced communication between plants and microbes
Microp- Stress-induced communication between plants and microbes
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MiRA- Microbe-induced Resistance to Agricultural pests
MiRA- Microbe-induced Resistance to Agricultural pests
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Scents in the dark: exploring volatile emission in the rhizosphere
The overall objectives of this project are: 1) to establish within NIOO the best methodology for measuring volatile emission from the rhizosphere and 2) to determine the contribution of bacteria to rhizosphere volatile emission.
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Microp- Impact of plant domestication on microbiome assembly and functioning
Microp- Impact of plant domestication on microbiome assembly and functioning
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VolControl: Enhancing Production of Pathogen-Suppressing Volatiles
VolControl will examine the possibility to enhance control of soil-borne fungal crop diseases via stimulation of production of pathogen-suppressing volatiles by soil microbes. The working hypothesis is that these volatiles will be released by bacteria upon decomposition of selected organic materials that contain precursors of suppressive volatiles. During the first phase of the project, different organic materials will be screened and the ones that give the most promising results will be further tested for disease suppressing performance in greenhouse - and field trials. In addition, information will be provided on the identity of the produced suppressing volatiles and the microbes that release these volatiles. The project will be done in close collaboration with participating companies to optimize application perspectives
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Harnessing the soil microbiome for improved stress tolerance in crop plants
This project aims to harness the power of the soil microbiome to protect plants against biotic and abiotic stresses
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Unravelling the ecological role of bacterial terpenes
The overall objective of this project is to decipher the ecological functions of bacterial terpenes in the rhizosphere.
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Volatile mediated interactions between methanotrophs and heterotrophs
Methanotrophic bacteria are crucial in the regulation of methane concentration in the atmosphere and therefore for regulating our climate.
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Developing bioinformatics tools for future metabolomics data analysis
Developing bioinformatics tools for future metabolomics data analysis.
Featured in
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The world's most spoken language is...Terpene
If you’re small, smells are a good way to stand out. A team of researchers led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has demonstrated for the first time that two different types of micro-organisms – bacteria and fungi – use fragrances, known as terpenes, to hold conversations. And that’s not all. “We actually believe that terpenes are the most popular chemical medium on our planet to communicate through.”