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Hollants Joke
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Address: K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35
9000 Gent
Belgium
Email: Joke.Hollants@UGent.be
Tel : (+32) 9 264.51 40
Fax: (+32) 9 264.50.92
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| Research activities :
Endosymbiotic bacteria in coenocytic green algae - exploration of a partnership.
Many eukaryotes contain endosymbiotic bacteria which participate in diverse metabolic functions. The endosymbiotic theory, claiming that eukaryotic organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts are of endosymbiotic origin, is a fine example of such advanced partnership. Endosymbiotic bacteria are also described within coenocytic green algae like Bryopsis hypnoides and various Caulerpa species. In Bryopsis, bacteria are even present in every phase of development, including the gametes, showing vertical transmission of the endosymbionts. This indicates an old association among host and symbiont, rather than a recent opportunistic and non-specific relationship.
The aim of this research study is to explore the physiological nature and specificity of the alliance between coenocytic green algae, i.e. representatives of the Bryopsidales order, and their bacterial endosymbionts. What's the identity, the function and the degree of inter-dependency of the bacterial partner(s)? Is the uptake of the bacteria from the environment an active process and how specific is this action?
The PhD study of Joke Hollants is funded by FWO-Flanders and is a 'symbiosis' between the expertise of Prof. Dr. O. De Clerck (Research Group Phycology, UGent) and Prof. Dr. A. Willems (LM-UGent).
Promotor(s): Prof. Dr. Anne Willems
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| Selected papers :
- Hollants J., Leliaert F., De Clerck O. and Willems A. (2010). How endo- is endo-? Surface sterilization of delicate samples: a Bryopsis (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) case study. Symbiosis 51: 131-138
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| last updated Fri 3 Aug 2012 12:22:51 |
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