B. Franz Lang

Themes
Symbiotic bacteria and fungi
Genome and gene evolution
Bioinformatics, Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics

SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA AND FUNGI
Multicellular organisms like plants and animals frequently interact with symbiotic microbes. They range from beneficial to pathogenic, and may live within tissues, within cells, or be in external contact. We are particularly interested in beneficial plant symbionts, to understand how they cooperate with their host, by sequencing and analyzing their genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes. This project is far-reaching for sustainable agriculture – replacement of agrochemicals by bio-pesticides, and mineral fertilizers by biofertilization.

GENOME AND GENE EVOLUTION
Understanding genome architecture, gene content and gene expression – in an evolutionary context – is the basis for understanding living organisms. We are interested in a wide range of bacteria, fungi and unicellular eukaryotes, in particular plant symbiotic species, and primitive eukaryotes that allow tracing back the origin of eukaryotes. Our comparative genomics approach regularly permits to identify innovative molecular mechanisms, such as RNA editing, trans-splicing or ribosomal hopping.

BIOINFORMATICS TOOLS FOR GENOME ANALYSIS
We are developing bioinformatics approaches for genome assembly, gene finding and functional annotation.
Our research is multi-disciplinary, based on national and international collaborations.