Chemical ecology

This research field deals with chemical dissection of positive as well as negative interactions between organisms, such as:

 

Attraction – repellence
Communication – social signals – quorum sensing
Chemical warfare – virulence – venoms - toxins
Resistance – immunity – detoxification – sequestration 
Lures – treats – gifts
Mimicry – camouflage – visual signals
Recognition – immune response

 

In the biochemistry and natural product chemistry group, we focus on two systems; host-gut microbiota interactions, and plant-insect interactions.

 

Interactions between gut microbiota and host immune cells

The gut microbiota is crucial in relation to maintenance of intestinal immunological homeostasis.  By means of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) the host senses the microbial microenvironment within the gut in order to initiate immune response towards pathogens and to maintain immunological homeostasis through interaction with commensals. The PRRs recognise conserved molecular patterns present in microorganism known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and an appropriate immune response initiates. We use human and murine cells and mouse models in order to gain knowledge of the biochemical interactions between PRRs and PAMPs and the chemical elements involved such as pathogen recognition molecules, proteins or peptides that induce microbial killing and cytokines that orchestrate an immune response.
Further information on personal pages of Hanne Frøkiær and Stine Metzdorff.

 

Plant-insect interactions

Our research in plant-insect interactions deals with plants of the cabbage family and their associated specialist and generalist insect herbivores. The cabbage family includes important crop plants such as mustard, cabbage and oilseed rape, their wild relatives, and the “white mouse” in plant biology; Arabidopsis thaliana. Our research deals with the biochemistry of defence molecules in the plants (chemical structure, metabolism) and their functions, activities, evolution, and fates in the interplay with insects (toxic effects, signal effects, detoxification). We believe that progress in this field of biochemistry may ultimately provide opportunities for breeding crops with better resistance properties. Further information on personal page of Niels Agerbirk.