1

Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. De Wit (Chair Phytopathology)PRIVATE

Qualifications:

Born 27 February 1949

1974 MSc Plant Pathology, WageningenUniversity

1981 PhD, Physiological studies on cultivar-specific resistance of tomato plants

ToCladosporium fulvum,WageningenUniversity

1986Associate professor, WageningenUniversity

1990Full professor Plant Pathology, WageningenUniversity

2008RoyalNetherlandsAcademy of Sciences and Arts (KNAW) Professor

Membership of professional organizations:

  • Royal Dutch Society of Plant Pathology
  • Dutch Society of Microbiology
  • Dutch Society of Chemistry
  • Dutch Society of Biology
  • Dutch Society of Genetics
  • Dutch Society of Biochemistry and Biochemistry
  • Royal Dutch Botanical Society
  • American Phytopathological Society
  • International Society of Plant Pathology
  • International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Involvement in scientific publications such as editorships:

  • Molecular Breeding
  • Fungal Genetics and Biology
  • Phytoparasitica
  • Faculty 1000 Plant Biology
  • FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Referee for: Science; Nature;Cell; Proc Natl Acad Sci; Plant Cell; EMBO J; Plant J;Plant Physiol;Plant Mol Biol;Mol Plant-Microbe Interact; Mol Microbiol; Phytopathol;Mol Plant Pathol;Fung Gen Biol; J Biol Chem;Curr Genet

Functions:

1990-presentFull professor Plant Pathology, WageningenUniversity

1990-presentMember Foundation Johanna Westerdijk

1990-presentMember Foundation Christine Buisman

1990-presentMember Foundation Willie Commelin Scholten

1992-2013Head of Laboratory Phytopathology, WageningenUniversity

1999-presentChairman Foundation Odo van Vloten

1999-2004Director Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences

2000-2013Member International Advisory Board Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial Ecology, Marburg

2002-2012Member International Advisory Board SILS, University of Amsterdam

2003-2008Scientific Director Centre for Biosystems Genomics-1 (CBSG-1)

2003-presentMember Steering Committee CBSG-1

2005-2007President International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

2006-presentMember International Advisory Board, Scottisch Crop Research Institute

2006-presentCo-ordinator ERA-PG network “RLPs and RLKs in plant defense”

2007-present Secretary Section Biology, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

2008-presentCluster leader Pathogenomics Program Centre for Biosystems Genomics-2 (CBSG-2)

2010-present Distinguished professor at KingSaudUniversity, Ryadh, Saudi arabia

Expertise:(Molecular) phytopathology;extracellular pathogens (Cladosporium/Mycosphaerella species;

fungal genetics; disease resistance (genes); fungal effectors; virulence genes; tomato; defense

genes and defense signaling

Supervised PhD theses :

1. Joosten, MHAJ (1991). The Cladosporium fulvum-tomato interaction: Physiological and molecular aspects of pathogenesis. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit. WageningenUniversity, 125 pp. Current appointment: assistant professor WageningenUniversity; received Vidi grant

2. Pieterse, CMJ (1993). Differential gene expression in Phytophthora infestans during pathogenesis on potato. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers. WageningenUniversity, 151 pp. Current appointment: full professor at UtrechtUniversity, The Netherlands; received Vici grant.

3. Van den Ackerveken, AFJM (1993). Molecular aspects of avirulence and pathogenicity of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit.Wageningen University, 135 pp. Current appointment: associate professor at UtrechtUniversity, The Netherlands; received Vidi grant.

4. Jespers, ABK (1994) Mode of action of the phenylpyrrole fungicide fenpiclonil in Fusarium sulphureum. Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, 129 pp. Current appointment: Business manager at Sara Lee, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

5. Drenth, A (1994). Molecular genetic evidence for a new sexually reproducing population of Phytophthora infestans. Promotors: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit/Prof.dr.ir. J.C. Zadoks, co-promotors: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers/Dr.ir. L.J.Turkensteen.WageningenUniversity, 150 pp. Current appointment: Associate professor at University of Queensland, Australia.

6. Wubben, JP (1994). Subcellular localization of fungal and plant proteins in the Cladosporium fulvum-tomato interaction.Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit. WageningenUniversity, 137 pp. Current appointment: Group Leader at Plant Science Group, WUR, Lisse, The Netherlands.

7. Stehmann, C (1995). Biological activity of triazole fungicides towards Botrytis cinerea. Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, 159 pp. Current appointment: Research Scientist University of Auckland, New Zealand.

8. Van der Vlugt-Bergmans, CBJ (1995). Genetic variation and pathogenicity of Botrytis cinerea. Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. J.A.L. van Kan.WageningenUniversity, 101 pp. Current appointment: Scientist at COGEM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

9. Sela-Buurlage, MB (1996). In Vitro sensitivity and tolerance of Fusarium solani towards chitinases and b-1,3-glucanases.Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit. WageningenUniversity, 211 pp. Current appointment: Group Leader at De Ruiter Seeds Bergschenhoek, The Netherlands.

10. Voorips, RE (1997). Clubroot in the cole crops: the interaction between Plasmodiophora brassicae and Brassica oleracea. Promotors: Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit,/Prof.dr.ir. J Parlevliet. WageningenUniversity, 116 pp. Current appointment: Researcher at Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

11. Engels, AJG (1998). Management of resistance to the fungicide fenpropimorph in Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici. Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, 129 pp. Current appointment: director Linge Agroconsultancy, Elst, The Netherlands.

12. Kooman-Gersmann, M (1998). The AVR9 elicitor peptide of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum: Molecular aspects of recognition. Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit. WageningenUniversity, 117 pp. Current appointment: Research Leader Syngenta, Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

13. Laugé, R. (1999). Extracellular proteins of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum; role in pathogenicity and avirulence. Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten/Dr.r. H.W.J. van den Broek. WageningenUniversity, 93 pp. Current appointment: Assistant professor, University of Orsay, Paris, France.

14. Andrade, A (2000). ABC transporters and multidrug resistance in Aspergillus nidulans.Promotor: Prof..dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, 157 pp. Current appointment: Assistant professor EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brasil.

15. Ten Have, A (2000). The Botrytis cinerea endopolygalacturonase gene family. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.A.L. van Kan. Wageningen University, 119 pp. Current appointment: postdoc University Mar La Plata, Argentina.

16. Snoeijers, SS (2000). Regulation of the avirulence gene Avr9 of the fungal tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr. T. Goosen / Dr.Ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten. WageningenUniversity, 120 pp. Current appointment: Research Scientist, Keygene, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

17. Van West, P (2000). Molecular tools to unravel the role of genes from Phytophthora infestans. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.Ir. F.P.M. Govers. WageningenUniversity, 150 pp. Current appointment: Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

18. Van der Hoorn, RAL (2001). The Cf-4 and Cf-9 resistance proteins of tomato: molecular aspects of specificity and elicitor perception. Wageningen. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten. WageningenUniversity, pp. 136. Current appointment: Independent Group Leader, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding, Cologne, Germany; received Veni grant.

19. Prins, TW (2001). Identification and functional analysis of Botrytis cinerea genes induced during infection of tomato. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.A.L. van Kan. Wageningen University, 114 pp. Current appointment: Postdoc at Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

20. Vleeshouwers, VGAA (2001). Molecular and cellular biology of resistance to Phytophthora infestans in Solanum species. Wageningen. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers/Dr.ir. L.T. Colon. WageningenUniversity, pp. 136. Current appointment: Postdoc at the Laboratory of Plant Breeding, WageningenUniversity, The Netherlands.

21. Jong, CF de (2002). Cf-dependent early defense responses induced by avirulence proteins of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. Wageningen. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten. WageningenUniversity, pp. 110. Current appointment: Postdoc at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

22. Luderer, R (2002). The Cladosporium fulvum-tomato interaction: elicitor proteins and their perception. Wageningen. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten. WageningenUniversity, pp. 104. Current appointment: Research leader, Clinical Chemistry, Diakonessenhuis,Utrecht, The Netherlands.

23. De Souza, JT (2002). Distribution, diversity, and activity of antibiotic-producing Pseudomonas spp. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.M. Raaijmakers. WageningenUniversity. pp. 165. Current appointment: Researcher at Centro de Pesquisas do Cacao, Bahia, Brasil

24. Zwiers, LH (2002). ABC transporters of the wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp. 127. Current appointment: Researcher at KNAW Institute, CBS, Utrecht, The Netherlands,

25. Van ‘t Slot, KAE (2002). Structure and function of the (a)virulence protein NIP1 of Rhynchosporium secalis. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. W. Knogge. WageningenUniversity, pp. 151. Current appointment: Research leader, De Ruiter Seeds, Bergschenhoek, The Netherlands (working at research unit, Almaria, Spain).

26. Stergiopoulos, I (2003). The role of ABC transporter proteins in multidrug resistance of the wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp.198. Current appointment: Postdoc, Laboratoty of Phytopathology, WageningenUniversity, The Netherlands.

27. Westerink, N (2003). The role of AVR4 and AVR4E proteins in virulence and avirulence of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum; molecular aspects of disease susceptibility and Resistance. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J Joosten. WageningenUniversity, pp. 170. Current appointment: Postdoc at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

28. Latijnhouwers. MJM (2003). The role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in development and virulence of Phytophthora infestans. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers. WageningenUniversity, pp. 157. Current appointment: Postdoc at Scottisch Research Institute, Dundee, Scotland.

29. Van den Burg, HA (2003). Studies towards the intrinsic functions of the AVR4 and AVR9 elicitors of the fungal tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum; disulfide bond patterns as structural markers for protein function. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. J.J.M. Vervoort. WageningenUniversity, pp. 167 Current appointment: Postdoc at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; received Veni grant.

30. Van der Lee, TAJ (2003). Genetic analysis of Phytophthora infestans.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers. WageningenUniversity, pp. 105. Current appointment: Researcher at Plant Rerearch International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

31. Hayashi, K (2003). ABC and MFS transporters from Botrytis cinerea involved in sensitivity to fungicides and natural toxic compounds.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp.143. Current appointment: Research scientist, Ube Industries, Ltd, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.

32. Kruijt M (2004). Molecular evolution of Cladosporium fulvum disease resistance genes in wild tomato.

Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. B.F.Brandwagt.WageningenUniversity, pp. 136. Current appointment: Postdoc at WageningenUniversity, The Netherlands

33. De Kock, M. (2004). Recognition of theCladosporium fulvum Ecp2 elicitor in tomato and non-host plant.

Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.W.H.Lindhout.WageningenUniversity, pp.150. Current appointment: Researcher at Biomerieux, Boxtel, The Netherlands.

34. Schoonbeek, HJ (2004) ABC transporters from Botrytis cinerea in biotic and abiotic interactions. Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp. 192. Current appointment: Postdoc at University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

35. Jiang, R (2006). Footprints of evolution: the dynamics of effector genes in the Phytophthora genome.

Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. F.P.M. Govers. WageningenUniversity, pp. 231. Current appointment: Postdoc at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA..

36. Mehrabi, R (2006) Signaling pathways involved in pathogenicity and development of fungal wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr. Ir. G. Kema,/Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp. 159. Current appointment: Postdoc at PurdueUniversity, La Fayette, USA.

37. Gabiëls, SHEJ (2006). Functional analysis of tomato genome genes expressed during the Cf-4/Avr4 induced hypersensitive response.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.H.A.J. Joosten. WageningenUniversity, pp. 142. Current appointment: Researcher, Keygene, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

38. Ware S (2006). Genetics of host-specific avirulence ofMycosphaerella graminicola on wheat.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr. Ir. G. Kema,/Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp 190. Current appointment: Postdoc, University of Arkansas, USA..

39. Staats, M (2006). Botrytis species on flower bulb crops: phylogeny, genetic variation and host specificity.Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.A.L. van Kan. Wageningen University, submitted. Current appointment: Researcher, Enza Zaden, Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

40. Custers, JHHV (2007). Engineering disease resistance in plants; mechanism and components of the avirulence strategy. Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. M. Stuiver. WageningenUniversity, submitted. Current appointment: Research leader, Crucell, Leiden, The Netherlands

41. Roohparvar R. (2007). Drug transporters of the fungal wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola. Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr.ir. M.A. de Waard. WageningenUniversity, pp. 183. Current appointment: assistant professor, Cereal Research SPII, Karaj, Iran.

42. M. Groenewald (2007). Molecular Characterization of Cercopora beticola and its relatives

Prof. dr. P.W. Crous and Prof.dr. ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, (promotors) WageningenUniversity, pp. 182.

Current appointment: scientific research CBS, KNWA Institute, Utrecht the Netherlands.

.

43. Kars, I (2007). The role of pectin degradation in pathogenesis of Botrytis cinerea.

Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.A.L. van Kan. Wageningen University, submitted. Current appointment: postdoc, University of Toulouse, France.

44. Tran Thi Thu Ha (2007) Interactions between biosurfactant producing Pseudomonas and Phytophthora species. Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.M. Raaijmakers. WageningenUniversity. pp. 165. Current appointment: Researcher at HueUniversity of Sciences, Vietnam.

45. Arzanlou, M (2008). Phylogeny, detection, and mating behaviour of Mycosphaerella spp. occurring on banana.Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotors: Dr. Lute-Harm Zwiers, Dr. G.J.H. Kema, co-promotors; prof. P.W. Crous, promotor). Current position: University of Theran, Iran

46. Stulemeijer, IJE (2008). Phosphorylation and proteome dynamics in pathogen-resistant tomato plantsPromotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. M.H.A.J. Joosten. Current postion Postdoc Dutch Cance Institute, Amsterdam.

47. Van Esse, HP (2008). Cladosporium fulvum effector proteins and their role in pathogen virulence (Dr. Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: B.P.H.J. Thomma. Current postion Postdoc Laboratoty of Phytopathology, WU.

48. Bergsma-Vlami, M (2008). Genotypic diversity and rhizoshere competence of antibiotic-producing Pseudomonas species species. Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor Dr. J.M. Raaijmakers. Present postion Plant Protection Service, Wageningen.

49. Guo, J (2008). Phytophthora infestans avirulence genes; mapping, cloning and diversity of field isolates. Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor:Dr. F.P.M. Govers.Present position.

College of Plant Protection of Northwest A&F University, China.

50.van Poppel, PMJA (2009). The Phytophthora infestans avirulence gene PiAvr4 and its potato counterpart R.Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor Dr. F.P.M. Govers. Present position Researcher de Ruiter Seeds, Begschenhoek, The Netherlands.

51. Ellendorff, U. (2009). Genome-wide investigation into roles of Arabidopsis receptor-like proteins in pathogen defense. Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: B.P.H.J. Thomma. Current postion researcher Rijkzwaan, de Lier. The Netherlands.

52. De Bruijn, I (2009). Biosynthesis and regulation of cyclic lipopeptides in pseudomonas fluorescens. : Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit, co-promotor: Dr. J.M. Raaijmakers. Current position postdoc University of Dundee, UK.

53. Wang, G (2009). The role of receptor-like proteins in Arabidopsis development. Promotors: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit and Prof. G Angenent; co-promotor: B.P.H.J. Thomma. Current position Postdoc laboratory of Phytopathology, WU

54. Bouwmeester, K. (2010). The interplay between a Phytophthora RXLR effector and an Arabidopsis lectin receptor kinase. Promotors: Prof. Dr. P.J.G.M. de Wit and Prof. F. Govers. Current position, Postdoc, Laboratory of Phytopathology, WU.

55. Cuesta Arenas, Y. (2010). Ethylene perception and NEP-like protein production by Botrytis cinerea. Promotor: Prof dr ir P.J.G.M. de Wit; co-promotor: Dr J.A.L. van. Kan; Current position: postdoc biochemical company.

56. Hanssen, I.M. (2010). Pepino mosaic virus: an endemic pathogen of tomato crops
Promotor: Prof dr ir P.J.G.M. de Wit; co-promotors: Dr. B. Lievens and Dr ir B.P.H.J. Thomma. Current postion: groupleader breeding company.

57. Van ‘t Klooster, J.W. (2010). The Cladosporium fulvum Avr2 protein behaves both as a virulence and an avirulence factor. Promotor: Prof dr ir P.J.G.M. de Wit; co-promotor: Dr ir B.P.H.J. Thomma. Current position: teacher at junior college.

58. Kroon, L.P.N.M. (2010). The genus Phytophthora; phylogeny, speciation and host specificity. Promotors: Prof Dr Ir F.P.M. Govers; Prof dr ir P.J.G.M. de Wit; co-promotor Dr. W.G. Flier. Current potion: groupleader at breeding company.

Scientific output Web of Science 2013:

  • Number of cited publications in international refereed scientific journals: 169
  • Number of citations: 6580
  • Average number of citations per article: 38
  • Impact factor (IF) range: 3,36-28,75
  • H-index: 49
  • Number of contributions to proceedings and book chapters: 36
  • Patents: 6

Selection of sixrecent important refereed publications (List of all publications: See annex):

  • Rooney, HCE, van‘t Klooster, JW, van der Hoorn, RAL Joosten, MHAJ, Jones, JDG and de Wit, PJGM (2005).Cladosporium Avr2 inhibits tomato Rcr3 protease required for Cf-2-dependent disease resistance. Science, 308, 1783-1786 (IF= 28,75).
  • van der Hoorn RAL, Wulff BBH, Rivas S, Durrant MC, van der Ploeg A, de Wit PJGM, Jones JDG (2005). Structure-function analysis of Cf-9, a receptor-like protein with extracytoplasmic leucine-rich repeats. The Plant Cell 17, 1000-1015 (IF= 9,65).
  • Van den Burg, HA, Harrison, SJ, Joosten, MHAJ, Vervoort, J, and de Wit, PJGM (2006). Cladosporium fulvum Avr4 protects fungal cell walls against hydrolysis by plant chitinases accumulating during infection. MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions. 12, 1420-1430 (IF= 4,25).
  • Stergiopoulos I, De Kock MJD, Lindhout P, de Wit PJGM (2007). Allelic variation in the effector genes of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum reveals different modes of adaptive evolution. Molecularr Plant-Microbe Interacions. 20, 1271-83 (IF= 4,25).
  • Van Esse HP, van ‘t Klooster JW, Bolton MD, Yadeta K, van Baarlen P, Boeren S, Vervoort J, de Wit PJGM and ThommaBPHJ (2008). The Cladosporium fulvum virulence protein Avr2 inhibits host proteases required for basal defense. The Plant Cell 20, 1948–1963 (IF= 9,65).
  • Stergiopoulos I, van den Burg HA, Okmen B, Beenen HG, van Liere S, Kema GHJ, de Wit P. 2010. Tomato Cf resistance proteins mediate recognition of cognate homologous effectors from fungi pathogenic on dicots and monocots. Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences of the United States of America 107(16): 7610-7615 (IF= 9.8)

Selection of fiverecent invited reviews/proceedings/book chapters:

  • Westerink, N, Joosten, MHAJ, de Wit, PJGM (2004). Fungal (a)virulence factors at the crossroads of disease susceptibility and resistance. In: Fungal disease resistance in plants. Biochemistry, molecular biology and genetic engineering, 93-137, 2004. Ed. Z.K. Punja. ISBN 1-56022-960-8.invited book chapter.
  • Thomma, BPHJ; Van Esse,HP; Crous, PW and de Wit, PJGM (2005) Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Passalora fulva), a highly specialized plant pathogen as a model for functional studies on plant pathogenic Mycosphaerellaceae. Molecular Plant Pathology 6, 379-393.Invited review.
  • deWit, PJGM (2007). How plants recognize pathogens and defend themselves. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 64, 2726-2732.Invited mini-review.
  • Stergiopoulos, I and de Wit, PJGM (2009) Fungal effectors. Annual Review of Phytopathology ( 47, 245-258.Invited review.
  • De Wit, PJGM et al.(2003, 2005 and 2007, respectively). Proceedings of the 11th, 12th and 13th International Congress of Molecular-Plant-Microbe Interactions, respectively (2003, St. Petersburg, Russia; 2005, Merida, Mexico;2007, Sorrento, Italy; Quebec City 2009, Kyoto, 2011).

Selection of recent invited (keynote) lectures on Courses/workshops/conferences :

  • Beyond gene-for-gene; where we go from here in understanding plant-pathogen interactions, Keynote address, BSPP Presidential Meeting, Univ. Nottingham, UK, 15-18 December, 2003.
  • Fungal (a)virulence genes; evolution at a micro-scale. VII European Congress on Fungal Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark, 17-19 April, 2004.
  • Functional analysis of Avr2 and Avr4 proteins of C. fulvum. XII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Merida, Mexico, 4-19December, 2005
  • Innate immunity of plants against fungi; induction and avaoidance of defense responses. FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists, Madrid, Italy, 4-9 July, 2006.
  • PAMPs, effectors, their targets and host responses in the pathosystem Cladosporium fulvum-tomato. XIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy,

21-27 July, 2007.

  • PAMPs and effectors, two sides of the same coin. Gordon Conference on Cellular and Molecular Fungal Biology. Holderness, USA, June 29-July 4, 2008.
  • Functional homologues ofthe Cladosporium fulvum effector proteins are present in Dothideomycetes.XIV International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Quebec City, Canada, 19-23 July, 2009.
  • Cladosporium fulvum effectors and functional homologues in Dothideomycete fungi.. 22nd New Phytologist symposium. Effectors in plant Microbe interactions. Versailles, France, 13-16 September 2009.

Substantial International Collaborations :

  • Dr. Jonathan Jones, Sainsbury Laboratory, United Kingdom.
  • Dr. Laurent Deslandes, INRA-CNRS, Toulouse, France.
  • Dr. David Jones, ANU, Canberra, Australia.
  • Dr. Adi Avni, University of Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Dr. Xinzhong Cai, ZhejiangUniversity, Hangzhou, China.
  • Prof. Richard Oliver, MurdochUniversity, Perth, Australia
  • Prof. Dr. R Bradshaw, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Obtained external Funding (2003-2009:

  • One postdoc and two PhD students from STW-NWOon“Isolation and exploitation of resistance genes in Solanaceous species targeted against a fungal pathogenicity factor”(€ 1.000.000; 1999-2004).
  • Grant from Keygene on “Identification of differentially expressed genes by cDNA-AFLP analysis from tomato during Avr4-triggered Cf-4 mediated programmed cell death” (€200.000; 2001-2003).
  • One EPS strategic research PhD fellowship on“Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes discovered by cDNA-AFLP technology from tomato during Avr4-triggered Cf-4 mediated programmed cell death” together with Dr. Matthieu Joosten (Phytopathology) (€150.000; 2001-2005).
  • EU-RTN program on “Adaptation to a changing nutritional environment: stress and growth regulation in yeast, plants and plant-pathogenic fungi”; together with seven other yeast and fungal labs(€ 200.000; 2002-2006).
  • CBSG- 1 Centre for Biosystems genomics research on “Disease resistance” (€ 800.000; 2002-2007).
  • One PhD EU-Bio-Exploit program on”Fungal effectors”(€ 220.000; 2005-2008).
  • Two EPS strategic research PhD fellowships on “Functional analysis of receptor-like proteins (RLPs) from Arabidopsis involved in development and defense” together with Dr. Bart Thomma (Phytopatholog) and Dr. Chun-Ming Liu (PRI)(300.000; 2004-2008).
  • Rotating WCS professorship Dr. David Jones, ANU Canberra(€ 18.000; 2005).
  • Two EPS visiting fellowshipsfor Dr. Adi Avni, Israël and Dr. David Jones, Australia (€ 12.000; 2006).

Two projects on“Distance learning WCS/KNPV for Dr. J-K Goudon “Developing distance learning modules in plant pathology”(€ 100.000; 2007-2009).

  • One postdoc from ERA-NET-PG-I on “PAMP- and Avr/Ecp- induced RLP-mediated signalling in tomato” (€ 202.000; 2007-2009; also co-o-ordinator of project; total budget: €1.500.000).
  • One Postdoc and one PhD from CBSG-2 on “Pathogenomics of tomato and Arabidopsis pathogens (€ 525.000; 2008-2012).
  • One postdoc from ERA-NET-PG-II on “Pattern recognition receptors: discovery, functionand application in crops for durable control”(€ 325.000; 2008-2010).
  • Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences professor (€1.360.000 including WU-matching; 2008-2013).

Grant for Rotating Professorship Prof. R. Oliver, MurdochUniversity, Perth, Australia(€18.000; 2008-2009)

CBSG-2 proteomicsproject on “Identifiction of novel C. fulvum effectors by ICAT technol.” (€17.000; 2008).

  • CBSG-2 start-up and technology development grant to initiate first draft sequencing of the Cladosporium fulvum genome (70 Mb) by 454 sequencing (€ 25.000; 2008)

Prices and awards: