@phdthesis{Vollmuth2021,
  author    = {Vollmuth, Nadine},
  title     = {Role of the proto-oncogene c-Myc in the development of Chlamydia trachomatis},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20365},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203655},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular human pathogen, is the world's leading cause of infection related blindness and the most common, bacterial sexually transmitted disease. In order to establish an optimal replicative niche, the pathogen extensively interferes with the physiology of the host cell. Chlamydia switches in its complex developmental cycle between the infectious non-replicative elementary bodies (EBs) and the non-infectious replicative reticulate bodies (RBs). The transformation to RBs, shortly after entering a host cell, is a crucial process in infection to start chlamydial replication. Currently it is unknown how the transition from EBs to RBs is initiated. In this thesis, we could show that, in an axenic media approach, L glutamine uptake by the pathogen is crucial to initiate the EB to RB transition. L-glutamine is converted to amino acids which are used by the bacteria to synthesize peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan inturn is believed to function in separating dividing Chlamydia. The glutamine metabolism is reprogrammed in infected cells in a c-Myc-dependent manner, in order to accomplish the increased requirement for L-glutamine. Upon a chlamydial infection, the proto-oncogene c-Myc gets upregulated to promote host cell glutaminolysis via glutaminase GLS1 and the L-glutamine transporter SLC1A5/ASCT2. Interference with this metabolic reprogramming leads to limited growth of C. trachomatis. Besides the active infection, Chlamydia can persist over a long period of time within the host cell whereby chronic and recurrent infections establish. C. trachomatis acquire a persistent state during an immune attack in response to elevated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels. It has been shown that IFN-γ activates the catabolic depletion of L-tryptophan via indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), resulting in the formation of non-infectious atypical chlamydial forms. In this thesis, we could show that IFN-γ depletes the key metabolic regulator c-Myc, which has been demonstrated to be a prerequisite for chlamydial development and growth, in a STAT1-dependent manner. Moreover, metabolic analyses revealed that the pathogen de routs the host cell TCA cycle to enrich pyrimidine biosynthesis. Supplementing pyrimidines or a-ketoglutarate helps the bacteria to partially overcome the persistent state. Together, the results indicate a central role of c-Myc induced host glutamine metabolism reprogramming and L-glutamine for the development of C. trachomatis, which may provide a basis for anti-infectious strategies. Furthermore, they challenge the longstanding hypothesis of L-tryptophan shortage as the sole reason for IFN-γ induced persistence and suggest a pivotal role of c-Myc in the control of the C. trachomatis dormancy.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vollmar2008,
  author    = {Vollmar, Friederike Lara Veronika},
  title     = {Analyse der Kernh{\"u}llenbildung am Modellsystem Xenopus laevis},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-29298},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {Die Kernh{\"u}lle ist eine hoch spezialisierte Membran, die den eukaryotischen Zellkern umgibt. Sie besteht aus der {\"a}ußeren und der inneren Kernmembran, die {\"u}ber die Kernporenkomplexe miteinander verbunden werden. Die Kernh{\"u}lle reguliert nicht nur den Transport von Makromolek{\"u}len zwischen dem Nukleoplasma und dem Zytoplasma, sie dient auch der Verankerung des Chromatins und des Zytoskeletts. Durch diese Interaktionen hilft die Kernh{\"u}lle, den Zellkern innerhalb der Zelle und die Chromosomen innerhalb des Zellkerns zu positionieren, und reguliert dadurch die Expression bestimmter Gene. In h{\"o}heren Eukaryoten durchlaufen sowohl die Kernh{\"u}lle, als auch die Kernporenkomplexe w{\"a}hrend der Zellteilung strukturelle Ver{\"a}nderungen. Zu Beginn der Mitose werden sie abgebaut, um sich am Ende der Mitose in den Tochterzellen erneut zu bilden. Die molekularen Mechanismen, die zum Wiederaufbau der Kernh{\"u}lle f{\"u}hren, sind kaum gekl{\"a}rt. Ein geeignetes System, um bestimmte Ereignisse bei der Kernh{\"u}llenbildung zu untersuchen, liefert das zellfreie System aus Xenopus Eiern und Spermienchromatin (Lohka 1998). Es konnte bereits fr{\"u}her gezeigt werden, dass es im Eiextrakt von Xenopus laevis mindestens zwei verschiedene Vesikelpopulationen gibt, die zur Bildung der Kernh{\"u}lle beitragen. Eine der Vesikelpopulationen bindet an Chromatin, fusioniert dort und bildet eine Doppelmembran. Die andere Vesikelpopulation bindet an die bereits vorhandene Doppelmembran und sorgt f{\"u}r die Ausbildung der Kernporenkomplexe. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, diese beiden Membranfraktionen zu isolieren und zu charakterisieren, wobei das Hauptinteresse in der porenbildenden Membranfraktion lag. Durch Zentrifugation {\"u}ber einen diskontinuierlichen Zuckergradienten konnten die Membranvesikel in zwei verschiedene Vesikelfraktionen aufgetrennt werden. Eine Membranfraktion konnte aus der 40\%igen Zuckerfraktion („40\% Membranfraktion") isoliert werden, die andere aus der 30\%igen Zuckerfraktion („30\% Membranfraktion"). Die verschiedenen Membranfraktionen wurden zu in vitro Kernen gegeben, in denen die Kernporen durch vorausgegangene Bildung von Annulate Lamellae depletiert worden waren. Nach Zugabe der 30\% Membranfraktion konnte die Bildung von funktionalen Kernporen beobachtet werden. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigte die 40\% Membranfraktion keine porenbildenden Eigenschaften. Unter Verwendung eines vereinfachten Systems, bestehend aus Zytosol, Spermienchromatin und den Membranen, wurde gezeigt, dass die 40\% Membranfraktion an Chromatin bindet und ausreichend ist, um eine kontinuierliche Doppelmembran ohne Kernporen zu bilden. Die 30\% Membranfraktion besitzt keine Chromatinbindungseigenschaften und wird aktiv entlang von Mikrotubuli zu den porenlosen Kernen transportiert. Dort interagiert sie mit der chromatingebundenen 40\% Membranfraktion und induziert die Porenbildung. Nach dem Vergleich der Proteinzusammensetzung der beiden Membranfraktionen, konnte das Major Vault Protein (MVP) nur in der porenbildenden Membranfraktion gefunden werden. MVP ist die Hauptstrukturkomponente der Vault-Komplexe, einem Ribonukleo-proteinpartikel, der in den meisten eukaryotischen Zellen vorhanden ist (Kedersha et al., 1991). Bemerkenswerterweise wird {\"u}ber die Funktion der Vault-Komplexe, trotz ihrer {\"u}biquit{\"a}ren Expression und ihrem Vorkommen in fast allen eukaryotischen Zellen, immer noch diskutiert. Um mehr {\"u}ber die Funktion und die Lokalisation der Vaults/MVP zu lernen, wurden die Vaults in Anlehnung an die Methode von Kedersha und Rome (1986) aus Xenopus Eiern isoliert. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurde rekombinantes Xenopus MVP hergestellt, das unter anderem f{\"u}r die Produktion von Antik{\"o}rpern in Meerschweinchen verwendet wurde. Um herauszufinden, ob die Anwesenheit von MVP in der 30\% Membranfraktion in direktem Zusammenhang mit deren porenbildender Eigenschaft steht, wurden gereinigte Vault-Komplexe oder rekombinantes MVP, das alleine ausreichend ist, um in sich zu den charakteristischen Vault-Strukturen zusammenzulagern, zu porenlosen Kernen gegeben. Sowohl gereinigte Vault-Komplexe, als auch rekombinantes MVP waren in der Lage in den porenlosen Kernen die Bildung von funktionalen Kernporen zu induzieren. Untersuchungen zur Lokalisation von MVP zeigten, dass MVP teilweise an der Kernh{\"u}lle und den Kernporenkomplexen lokalisiert, w{\"a}hrend der Großteil an MVP zytoplasmatisch vorliegt. Dies sind die ersten Daten, die Vaults/MVP mit der Kernporenbildung in Verbindung bringen. Deshalb bietet diese Arbeit die Grundlage, um diese unerwartete Rolle der Vaults in Zukunft genauer zu charakterisieren.},
  subject      = {Kernh{\"u}lle},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{VollandKauppSchmitzetal.2022,
  author    = {Volland, Julian Manuel and Kaupp, Johannes and Schmitz, Werner and W{\"u}nsch, Anna Chiara and Balint, Julia and M{\"o}llmann, Marc and El-Mesery, Mohamed and Frackmann, Kyra and Peter, Leslie and Hartmann, Stefan and K{\"u}bler, Alexander Christian and Seher, Axel},
  title     = {Mass spectrometric metabolic fingerprinting of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG)-induced inhibition of glycolysis and comparative analysis of methionine restriction versus glucose restriction under perfusion culture in the murine L929 model system},
  series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  number    = {16},
  issn      = {1422-0067},
  doi       = {10.3390/ijms23169220},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-286007},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {All forms of restriction, from caloric to amino acid to glucose restriction, have been established in recent years as therapeutic options for various diseases, including cancer. However, usually there is no direct comparison between the different restriction forms. Additionally, many cell culture experiments take place under static conditions. In this work, we used a closed perfusion culture in murine L929 cells over a period of 7 days to compare methionine restriction (MetR) and glucose restriction (LowCarb) in the same system and analysed the metabolome by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In addition, we analysed the inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) over a period of 72 h. 2-DG induced very fast a low-energy situation by a reduced glycolysis metabolite flow rate resulting in pyruvate, lactate, and ATP depletion. Under perfusion culture, both MetR and LowCarb were established on the metabolic level. Interestingly, over the period of 7 days, the metabolome of MetR and LowCarb showed more similarities than differences. This leads to the conclusion that the conditioned medium, in addition to the different restriction forms, substantially reprogramm the cells on the metabolic level.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VolceanovHerbstBiniosseketal.2014,
  author    = {Volceanov, Larisa and Herbst, Katharina and Biniossek, Martin and Schilling, Oliver and Haller, Dirk and N{\"o}lke, Thilo and Subbarayal, Prema and Rudel, Thomas and Zieger, Barbara and H{\"a}cker, Georg},
  title     = {Septins Arrange F-Actin-Containing Fibers on the Chlamydia trachomatis Inclusion and Are Required for Normal Release of the Inclusion by Extrusion},
  series = {MBIO},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {MBIO},
  number    = {5},
  issn      = {2150-7511},
  doi       = {10.1128/mBio.01802-14},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-115421},
  pages     = {e01802-14},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular human pathogen that grows inside a membranous, cytosolic vacuole termed an inclusion. Septins are a group of 13 GTP-binding proteins that assemble into oligomeric complexes and that can form higher-order filaments. We report here that the septins SEPT2, -9, -11, and probably -7 form fibrillar structures around the chlamydial inclusion. Colocalization studies suggest that these septins combine with F actin into fibers that encase the inclusion. Targeting the expression of individual septins by RNA interference (RNAi) prevented the formation of septin fibers as well as the recruitment of actin to the inclusion. At the end of the developmental cycle of C. trachomatis, newly formed, infectious elementary bodies are released, and this release occurs at least in part through the organized extrusion of intact inclusions. RNAi against SEPT9 or against the combination of SEPT2/7/9 substantially reduced the number of extrusions from a culture of infected HeLa cells. The data suggest that a higher-order structure of four septins is involved in the recruitment or stabilization of the actin coat around the chlamydial inclusion and that this actin recruitment by septins is instrumental for the coordinated egress of C. trachomatis from human cells. The organization of F actin around parasite-containing vacuoles may be a broader response mechanism of mammalian cells to the infection by intracellular, vacuole-dwelling pathogens. IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis is a frequent bacterial pathogen throughout the world, causing mostly eye and genital infections. C. trachomatis can develop only inside host cells; it multiplies inside a membranous vacuole in the cytosol, termed an inclusion. The inclusion is covered by cytoskeletal "coats" or "cages," whose organization and function are poorly understood. We here report that a relatively little-characterized group of proteins, septins, is required to organize actin fibers on the inclusion and probably through actin the release of the inclusion. Septins are a group of GTP-binding proteins that can organize into heteromeric complexes and then into large filaments. Septins have previously been found to be involved in the interaction of the cell with bacteria in the cytosol. Our observation that they also organize a reaction to bacteria living in vacuoles suggests that they have a function in the recognition of foreign compartments by a parasitized human cell.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogtmannHuaZelleretal.2016,
  author    = {Vogtmann, Emily and Hua, Xing and Zeller, Georg and Sunagawa, Shinichi and Voigt, Anita Y. and Hercog, Rajna and Goedert, James J. and Shi, Jianxin and Bork, Peer and Sinha, Rashmi},
  title     = {Colorectal Cancer and the Human Gut Microbiome: Reproducibility with Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing},
  series = {PLoS ONE},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {PLoS ONE},
  number    = {5},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0155362},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-166904},
  pages     = {e0155362},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiota affects colorectal cancer development, but previous studies have varied in population, technical methods, and associations with cancer. Understanding these variations is needed for comparisons and for potential pooling across studies. Therefore, we performed whole-genome shotgun sequencing on fecal samples from 52 pre-treatment colorectal cancer cases and 52 matched controls from Washington, DC. We compared findings from a previously published 16S rRNA study to the metagenomics-derived taxonomy within the same population. In addition, metagenome-predicted genes, modules, and pathways in the Washington, DC cases and controls were compared to cases and controls recruited in France whose specimens were processed using the same platform. Associations between the presence of fecal Fusobacteria, Fusobacterium, and Porphyromonas with colorectal cancer detected by 16S rRNA were reproduced by metagenomics, whereas higher relative abundance of Clostridia in cancer cases based on 16S rRNA was merely borderline based on metagenomics. This demonstrated that within the same sample set, most, but not all taxonomic associations were seen with both methods. Considering significant cancer associations with the relative abundance of genes, modules, and pathways in a recently published French metagenomics dataset, statistically significant associations in the Washington, DC population were detected for four out of 10 genes, three out of nine modules, and seven out of 17 pathways. In total, colorectal cancer status in the Washington, DC study was associated with 39\% of the metagenome-predicted genes, modules, and pathways identified in the French study. More within and between population comparisons are needed to identify sources of variation and disease associations that can be reproduced despite these variations. Future studies should have larger sample sizes or pool data across studies to have sufficient power to detect associations that are reproducible and significant after correction for multiple testing.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogelPrinzingBussleretal.2021,
  author    = {Vogel, Sebastian and Prinzing, Andreas and Bußler, Heinz and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Schmidt, Stefan and Thorn, Simon},
  title     = {Abundance, not diversity, of host beetle communities determines abundance and diversity of parasitoids in deadwood},
  series = {Ecology and Evolution},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Ecology and Evolution},
  number    = {11},
  doi       = {10.1002/ece3.7535},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-238892},
  pages     = {6881 -- 6888},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Most parasites and parasitoids are adapted to overcome defense mechanisms of their specific hosts and hence colonize a narrow range of host species. Accordingly, an increase in host functional or phylogenetic dissimilarity is expected to increase the species diversity of parasitoids. However, the local diversity of parasitoids may be driven by the accessibility and detectability of hosts, both increasing with increasing host abundance. Yet, the relative importance of these two mechanisms remains unclear. We parallelly reared communities of saproxylic beetle as potential hosts and associated parasitoid Hymenoptera from experimentally felled trees. The dissimilarity of beetle communities was inferred from distances in seven functional traits and from their evolutionary ancestry. We tested the effect of host abundance, species richness, functional, and phylogenetic dissimilarities on the abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity of parasitoids. Our results showed an increase of abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity of parasitoids with increasing beetle abundance. Additionally, abundance of parasitoids increased with increasing species richness of beetles. However, functional and phylogenetic dissimilarity showed no effect on the diversity of parasitoids. Our results suggest that the local diversity of parasitoids, of ephemeral and hidden resources like saproxylic beetles, is highest when resources are abundant and thereby detectable and accessible. Hence, in some cases, resources do not need to be diverse to promote parasitoid diversity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogelGossnerMergneretal.2020,
  author    = {Vogel, Sebastian and Gossner, Martin M. and Mergner, Ulrich and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Thorn, Simon},
  title     = {Optimizing enrichment of deadwood for biodiversity by varying sun exposure and tree species: An experimental approach},
  series = {Journal of Applied Ecology},
  volume    = {57},
  journal   = {Journal of Applied Ecology},
  number    = {10},
  doi       = {10.1111/1365-2664.13648},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214614},
  pages     = {2075 -- 2085},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The enrichment of deadwood is essential for the conservation of saproxylic biodiversity in managed forests. However, existing strategies focus on a cost-intensive increase of deadwood amount, while largely neglecting increasing deadwood diversity. Deadwood objects, that is logs and branches, from six tree species were experimentally sun exposed, canopy shaded and artificially shaded for 4 years, after which the alpha-, beta- and gamma-diversity of saproxylic beetles, wood-inhabiting fungi and spiders were analysed. Analyses of beta-diversity included the spatial distance between exposed deadwood objects. A random-drawing procedure was used to identify the combination of tree species and sun exposure that yielded the highest gamma-diversity at a minimum of exposed deadwood amount. In sun-exposed plots, species numbers in logs were higher than in shaded plots for all taxa, while in branches we observed the opposite for saproxylic beetles. Tree species affected the species numbers only of saproxylic beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi. The beta-diversity of saproxylic beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi among logs was influenced by sun exposure and tree species, but beta-diversity of spiders by sun exposure only. For all saproxylic taxa recorded in logs, differences between communities increased with increasing spatial distance. A combination of canopy-shaded Carpinus logs and sun-exposed Populus logs resulted in the highest species numbers of all investigated saproxylic taxa among all possible combinations of tree species and sun-exposure treatments. Synthesis and applications. We recommend incorporating the enrichment of different tree species and particularly the variation in sun exposure into existing strategies of deadwood enrichment. Based on the results of our study, we suggest to combine the logs of softwood broadleaf tree species (e.g. Carpinus, Populus), hardwood broadleaf tree species (e.g. Quercus) and coniferous tree species (e.g. Pinus) under different conditions of sun exposure and distribute them spatially in a landscape to maximize the beneficial effects on overall diversity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogelBusslerFinnbergetal.2021,
  author    = {Vogel, Sebastian and Bussler, Heinz and Finnberg, Sven and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Stengel, Elisa and Thorn, Simon},
  title     = {Diversity and conservation of saproxylic beetles in 42 European tree species: an experimental approach using early successional stages of branches},
  series = {Insect Conservation and Diversity},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Insect Conservation and Diversity},
  number    = {1},
  doi       = {10.1111/icad.12442},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218401},
  pages     = {132 -- 143},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Tree species diversity is important to maintain saproxylic beetle diversity in managed forests. Yet, knowledge about the conservational importance of single tree species and implications for forest management and conservation practices are lacking. We exposed freshly cut branch-bundles of 42 tree species, representing tree species native and non-native to Europe, under sun-exposed and shaded conditions for 1 year. Afterwards, communities of saproxylic beetles were reared ex situ for 2 years. We tested for the impact of tree species and sun exposure on alpha-, beta-, and gamma-diversity as well as composition of saproxylic beetle communities. Furthermore, the number of colonised tree species by each saproxylic beetle species was determined. Tree species had a lower impact on saproxylic beetle communities compared to sun exposure. The diversity of saproxylic beetles varied strongly among tree species, with highest alpha- and gamma-diversity found in Quercus petraea. Red-listed saproxylic beetle species occurred ubiquitously among tree species. We found distinct differences in the community composition of broadleaved and coniferous tree species, native and non-native tree species as well as sun-exposed and shaded deadwood. Our study enhances the understanding of the importance of previously understudied and non-native tree species for the diversity of saproxylic beetles. To improve conservation practices for saproxylic beetles and especially red-listed species, we suggest a stronger incorporation of tree species diversity and sun exposure of into forest management strategies, including the enrichment of deadwood from native and with a specific focus on locally rare or silviculturally less important tree species.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vogel2022,
  author    = {Vogel, Sebastian},
  title     = {Determinants of saproxylic biodiversity and conclusions for conservation},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28926},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-289266},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Over the past centuries, anthropogenic utilization has fundamentally changed the appearance of European forest ecosystems. Constantly growing and changing demands have led to an enormous decline in ecological key elements and a structural homogenization of most forests. These changes have been accompanied by widespread declines of many forest-dwelling and especially saproxylic, i.e. species depending on deadwood. In order to counteract this development, various conservation strategies have been developed, but they primarily focus on a quantitative deadwood enrichment. However, the diversity of saproxylic species is furthermore driven by a variety of abiotic and biotic determinants as well as interactions between organisms. A detailed understanding of these processes has so far been largely lacking. The aim of the present thesis was therefore to improve the existing ecological knowledge of determinants influencing saproxylic species and species communities in order to provide the basis for evidence-based and adapted conservation measures. In chapter II of this thesis, I first investigated the impact of sun exposure, tree species, and their combination on saproxylic beetles, wood-inhabiting fungi, and spiders. Therefore, logs and branches of six tree species were set up under different sun exposures in an experimental approach. The impact of sun exposure and tree species strongly differed among single saproxylic taxa as well as diameters of deadwood. All investigated taxa were affected by sun exposure, whereby sun exposure resulted in a higher alpha-diversity of taxa recorded in logs and a lower alpha-diversity of saproxylic beetles reared from branches compared to shading by canopy. Saproxylic beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi as obligate saproxylic species were additionally affected by tree species. In logs, the respective impact of both determinants also resulted in divergent community compositions. Finally, a rarefaction/extrapolation method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of tree species and sun exposure for the conservation of saproxylic species diversity. Based on this procedure, a combination of broadleaved and coniferous as well as hard- and softwood tree species was identified to support preferably high levels of saproxylic species diversity. The aim of chapter III was to evaluate the individual conservational importance of tree species for the protection of saproxylic beetles. For this, the list of tree species sampled for saproxylic beetles was increased to 42 different tree species. The considered tree species represented large parts of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity native to Central Europe as well as the most important non-native tree species of silvicultural interest. Freshly cut branches were set up for one year and saproxylic beetles were reared afterwards for two subsequent years. The study revealed that some tree species, in particular Quercus sp., host a particular high diversity of saproxylic beetles, but tree species with a comparatively medium or low overall diversity were likewise important for red-listed saproxylic beetle species. Compared to native tree species, non-native tree species hosted a similar overall species diversity of saproxylic beetles but differed in community composition. In chapter IV, I finally analysed the interactions of host beetle diversity and the diversity of associated parasitoids by using experimentally manipulated communities of saproxylic beetles and parasitoid Hymenoptera as a model system. Classical approaches of species identification for saproxylic beetles were combined with DNA-barcoding for parasitoid Hymenoptera. The diversity of the host communities was inferred from their phylogenetic composition as well as differences in seven functional traits. Abundance, species richness, and Shannon-diversity of parasitoid Hymenoptera increased with increasing host abundance. However, the phylogenetic and functional dissimilarity of host communities showed no influence on the species communities of parasitoid Hymenoptera. The results clearly indicate an abundance-driven system in which the general availability, not necessarily the diversity of potential hosts, is decisive. In summary, the present thesis corroborates the general importance of deadwood heterogeneity for the diversity of saproxylic species by combining different experimental approaches. In order to increase their efficiency, conservation strategies for saproxylic species should generally promote deadwood from different tree species under different conditions of sun exposure on landscape-level in addition to the present enrichment of a certain deadwood amount. The most effective combinations of tree species should consider broadleaved and coniferous as well as hard- and softwood tree species. Furthermore, in addition to dominant tree species, special attention should be given to native, subdominant, silviculturally unimportant, and rare tree species.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vogel2002,
  author    = {Vogel, Friederike},
  title     = {Klonierung, Expression und Charakterisierung von Mutanten des Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-6782},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2002},
  abstract  = {Das Zytokin Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) geh{\"o}rt als Mitglied der Transforming Growth Factor ß-Superfamilie zu einer großen Gruppe eng verwandter Wachstums- und Differenzierungsfaktoren. Es spielt eine entscheidende Rolle bei Bildung und Regeneration von Knorpel und Knochen und w{\"a}hrend verschiedener Prozesse der embryonalen Entwicklung. Durch Sezernierung des Proteins und anschließende Diffusion in der extrazellul{\"a}ren Matrix (EZM) ausgehend vom Ort der Sekretion unterliegt sein Wirkungsgrad einem abnehmenden Konzentrationsgradienten. BMP-2 bindet neben der hochaffinen Bindung an seinen spezifischen Rezeptor unter anderem auch an die extrazellul{\"a}re Matrix. So konnte in Vorarbeiten bereits durch Deletion der basischen Heparinbindungsstelle des BMP-2, die sich im N-terminalen Bereich befindet, eine Wirkungsverst{\"a}rkung des Proteins in einem in vitro- Experiment, dem H{\"u}hnergliedmaßentest, erreicht werden, da die konkurrierende Bindung an Heparinbindungsstellen der EZM wegf{\"a}llt. Im Tiermodell konnte jedoch ein genau umgekehrter Effekt dieser Mutante im Vergleich mit dem Wildtyp gezeigt werden, da in vivo die Diffusion des Molek{\"u}ls durch Bindung an die EZM begrenzt und es so lokal an seinem Wirkungsort konzentriert wird. Von diesen Vorbefunden ausgehend war das Ziel der Arbeit die Klonierung und Expression von Mutanten des BMP-2, bei denen durch schrittweise Modifizierung der Heparinbindungsstelle die Bindung des Proteins an Heparin und deren Einfluß auf die Rezeptorbindung charakterisiert werden sollte. Dazu wurden zwei Mutanten des BMP-2 mit Verdopplung eines bzw. beider basischer Aminos{\"a}uretripletts kloniert, da diesem basischen Bereich im N-Terminus die eigentliche Bindung an Heparin zugeschrieben wird. Nach Expression, Renaturierung und s{\"a}ulenchromatographischer Aufreinigung der Proteine konnte in dieser Arbeit in drei verschiedenen funktionellen in vitro-Tests eine abnehmende Wirkung der Mutanten gezeigt werden. Neben dem biophysikalischen Nachweis der apparenten Affinit{\"a}ten der Mutanten zu Rezeptor und Matrix in Biacore-Messungen konnte die {\"A}nderung des Wirkungsgrades auch in einem Zellkulturassay mit einer Maus-Fibroblasten-Zellinie durch Messung der Alkalischen Phosphatase und im H{\"u}hnergliedmaßentest gezeigt werden. In in vivo Experimenten bleibt eine entsprechende zu erwartende Wirkungsverst{\"a}rkung dieser beiden Mutanten nachzuweisen, die im Hinblick auf einen therapeutischen Einsatz bei gew{\"u}nschtem Ersatz zerst{\"o}rten Knochens relevant werden k{\"o}nnte.},
  subject      = {Transforming Growth Factor beta},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Vogel2022,
  author    = {Vogel, Cassandra Ezra},
  title     = {The effects of land-use and agroecological practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services in tropical smallholder farms},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29066},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-290661},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Biodiversity is in rapid decline worldwide. These declines are more pronounced in areas that are currently biodiversity rich, but economically poor - essentially describing many tropical regions in the Global South where landscapes are dominated by smallholder agriculture. Agriculture is an important driver of biodiversity decline, through habitat destruction and unsustainable practices. Ironically, agriculture itself is dependent on a range of ecosystem services, such as pollination and pest control, provided by biodiversity. Biodiversity on fields and the delivery of ecosystem services to crops is often closely tied to the composition of the surrounding landscape - complex landscapes with a higher proportion of (semi-)natural habitats tend to support a high abundances and biodiversity of pollinators and natural enemies that are beneficial to crop production. However, past landscape scale studies have focused primarily on industrialized agricultural landscapes in the Global North, and context dependent differences between regions and agricultural systems are understudied. Smallholder agriculture supports 2 billion people worldwide and contributes to over half the world's food supply. Yet smallholders, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are underrepresented in research investigating the consequences of landscape change and agricultural practices. Where research in smallholder agriculture is conducted, the focus is often on commodity crops, such as cacao, and less on crops that are directly consumed by smallholder households, though the loss of services to these crops could potentially impact the most vulnerable farmers the hardest. Agroecology - a holistic and nature-based approach to agriculture, provides an alternative to unsustainable input-intensive agriculture. Agroecology has been found to benefit smallholders through improved agronomical and food-security outcomes. Co-benefits of agroecological practices with biodiversity and ecosystem services are assumed, but not often empirically tested. In addition, the local and landscape effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services are more commonly studied in isolation, but their potentially interactive effects are so far little explored. Our study region in northern Malawi exemplifies many challenges experienced by smallholder farmers throughout sub-Saharan Africa and more generally in the Global South. Malawi is located in a global biodiversity hotspot, but biodiversity is threatened by rapid habitat loss and a push for input-intensive agriculture by government and other stakeholders. In contrast, agroecology has been effectively promoted and implemented in the study region. We investigated how land-use differences and the agroecological practices affects biodiversity and ecosystem services of multiple taxa in a maize-bean intercropping system (Chapter 2), and pollination of pumpkin (Chapter 3) and pigeon pea (Chapter 4). Additionally, the effects of local and landscape scale shrub- to farmland habitat conversion was investigated on butterfly communities, as well as the potential for agroecology to mitigate these effects (Chapter 5).},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogelChungaSunetal.2021,
  author    = {Vogel, Cassandra and Chunga, Timothy L. and Sun, Xiaoxuan and Poveda, Katja and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf},
  title     = {Higher bee abundance, but not pest abundance, in landscapes with more agriculture on a late-flowering legume crop in tropical smallholder farms},
  series = {PeerJ},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {PeerJ},
  doi       = {10.7717/peerj.10732},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-231491},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Background Landscape composition is known to affect both beneficial insect and pest communities on crop fields. Landscape composition therefore can impact ecosystem (dis)services provided by insects to crops. Though landscape effects on ecosystem service providers have been studied in large-scale agriculture in temperate regions, there is a lack of representation of tropical smallholder agriculture within this field of study, especially in sub-Sahara Africa. Legume crops can provide important food security and soil improvement benefits to vulnerable agriculturalists. However, legumes are dependent on pollinating insects, particularly bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) for production and are vulnerable to pests. We selected 10 pigeon pea (Fabaceae: Cajunus cajan (L.)) fields in Malawi with varying proportions of semi-natural habitat and agricultural area within a 1 km radius to study: (1) how the proportion of semi-natural habitat and agricultural area affects the abundance and richness of bees and abundance of florivorous blister beetles (Coleoptera: Melloidae), (2) if the proportion of flowers damaged and fruit set difference between open and bagged flowers are correlated with the proportion of semi-natural habitat or agricultural area and (3) if pigeon pea fruit set difference between open and bagged flowers in these landscapes was constrained by pest damage or improved by bee visitation. Methods We performed three, ten-minute, 15 m, transects per field to assess blister beetle abundance and bee abundance and richness. Bees were captured and identified to (morpho)species. We assessed the proportion of flowers damaged by beetles during the flowering period. We performed a pollinator and pest exclusion experiment on 15 plants per field to assess whether fruit set was pollinator limited or constrained by pests. Results In our study, bee abundance was higher in areas with proportionally more agricultural area surrounding the fields. This effect was mostly driven by an increase in honeybees. Bee richness and beetle abundances were not affected by landscape characteristics, nor was flower damage or fruit set difference between bagged and open flowers. We did not observe a positive effect of bee density or richness, nor a negative effect of florivory, on fruit set difference. Discussion In our study area, pigeon pea flowers relatively late—well into the dry season. This could explain why we observe higher densities of bees in areas dominated by agriculture rather than in areas with more semi-natural habitat where resources for bees during this time of the year are scarce. Therefore, late flowering legumes may be an important food resource for bees during a period of scarcity in the seasonal tropics. The differences in patterns between our study and those conducted in temperate regions highlight the need for landscape-scale studies in areas outside the temperate region.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VogelLoeschbergerSaueretal.2011,
  author    = {Vogel, Benjamin and L{\"o}schberger, Anna and Sauer, Markus and Hock, Robert},
  title     = {Cross-linking of DNA through HMGA1 suggests a DNA scaffold},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68865},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Binding of proteins to DNA is usually considered 1D with one protein bound to one DNA molecule. In principle, proteins with multiple DNA binding domains could also bind to and thereby cross-link different DNA molecules. We have investigated this possibility using high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) proteins, which are architectural elements of chromatin and are involved in the regulation of multiple DNA-dependent processes. Using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), we could show that overexpression of HMGA1a-eGFP in Cos-7 cells leads to chromatin aggregation. To investigate if HMGA1a is directly responsible for this chromatin compaction we developed a DNA cross-linking assay. We were able to show for the first time that HMGA1a can cross-link DNA directly. Detailed analysis using point mutated proteins revealed a novel DNA cross-linking domain. Electron microscopy indicates that HMGA1 proteins are able to create DNA loops and supercoils in linearized DNA confirming the cross-linking ability of HMGA1a. This capacity has profound implications for the spatial organization of DNA in the cell nucleus and suggests cross-linking activities for additional nuclear proteins.},
  subject      = {DNA},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vogel2011,
  author    = {Vogel, Benjamin},
  title     = {Organisation von Chromatin durch HMGA1 Proteine},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-65295},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {HMGA1 Proteine sind kleine, basische, Nicht-Histon Proteine, die in L{\"o}sung keine Struktur aufweisen, durch drei AT-Haken, als DNA-Bindungsmotive, gekennzeichnet sind und pr{\"a}ferentiell an die kleine Furche der DNA binden. Als differenziell exprimierte Architekturelemente des Chromatins erf{\"u}llen sie wichtige Funktionen bei der Regulation DNA abh{\"a}ngiger Prozesse in Zellen und w{\"a}hrend Entwicklungsprozessen. Aberrante Expressionen f{\"u}hren zu Entwicklungsdefekten und Krebs. In dieser Arbeit wurde der Einfluss von HMGA1 Proteinen auf die Organisation des Chromatins untersucht. Als Modell diente dabei zun{\"a}chst die Differenzierung von C2C12 Muskelvorl{\"a}uferzellen. Wie in einer fr{\"u}heren Arbeit gezeigt wurde, ist die Herunterregulation von HMGA1a essentiell f{\"u}r den Eintritt von C2C12 Zellen in die Myogenese. Eine konstante {\"U}berexpression von HMGA1a-eGFP hingegen verhindert die Muskeldifferenzierung durch Beeinflussung der Expression myogenesespezifischer Gene und Etablierung einer stabilen Chromatinstruktur. Wie in der vorliegenden Arbeit herausgefunden wurde, nimmt die differenzielle HMGA1a Expression nicht nur Einfluss auf die Expression muskelspezifischer Gene, sondern auch auf die globale Zusammensetzung des Chromatins durch eine reduzierte Expression von H1 Histonen und einer aberranten Expression von HMGB1, HMGN1 und HP1 Proteinen. HMGA1a wurde zusammen mit ORC Proteinen eine Funktion bei der Definition von Replikationsurspr{\"u}ngen in eukaryotischen Zellen zugesprochen. ORC Proteine wurden auch als Komponenten des Heterochromatins und als Interaktionspartner von HP1α identifiziert. Hier konnte mit Hilfe von Co-Immunpr{\"a}zipitationen, Pull-down Assays und Verdr{\"a}ngungsexperimenten gezeigt werden, dass HMGA1 ein weiterer, direkter Interaktionspartner von ORC Proteinen im Heterochromatin ist und zusammen mit HP1α kooperiert. Pull-down-, Verdr{\"a}ngungs- und siRNA-Experimente zeigten zudem, dass HMGA1 zwar nicht direkt mit HP1α interagiert, die Kooperation der Proteine {\"u}ber ORC aber dennoch wichtig f{\"u}r die Aufrechterhaltung der Heterochromatinsstruktur ist. Damit erweisen sich HMGA1 Proteine als wichtige Stabilisierungsfaktoren des Heterochromatins. Bislang ging man davon aus, dass HMGA1 Molek{\"u}le linear, also eindimensional, an ein DNA Molek{\"u}l binden. Das Vorhandensein von drei DNA-Bindungsmotiven und die eher struktur- als sequenzabh{\"a}ngige Bindung an die DNA lassen vermuten, dass HMGA1 Proteine auch gleichzeitig an benachbarte DNA-Str{\"a}nge, also auch dreidimensional, binden k{\"o}nnten. Bekr{\"a}ftigt wurde diese Vermutung durch die Bildung von Chromatinaggregaten in Zellen die HMGA1a-eGFP {\"u}berexprimierten. Dies wurde mittels konfokaler und hochaufl{\"o}sender Mikroskopie (dSTORM) analysiert. Um das Potential einer DNA-Quervernetzung durch HMGA1 Proteine nachzuweisen, wurde eine neue Methode entwickelt. Mit Hilfe eines neuartigen DNA Cross-linking Assays wurde nachgewiesen, dass HMGA1 Proteine in der Lage sind, zwei individuelle DNA Str{\"a}nge zu vernetzen. Zudem wurde eine neue Dom{\"a}ne in HMGA1 entdeckt die maßgeblich zum Cross-linking beitr{\"a}gt. Elektronenmikroskopische Analysen best{\"a}tigten, dass HMGA1 Proteine in der Lage sind Kreuzungen und Schleifen in DNA Molek{\"u}len zu erzeugen. Diese Ergebnisse unterst{\"u}tzen die Vermutung, dass HMGA1 Proteine im Zellkern ein DNA Ger{\"u}st bilden k{\"o}nnen, das Einfluss auf die zelltypische Chromatinorganisation nimmt und dadurch DNA abh{\"a}ngige Prozesse beeinflusst. In wie weit eine HMGA1 induzierte DNA Quervernetzung in vivo zum Beispiel in Chromozentren von C2C12 Zellen oder in Krebszellen, in denen HMGA1 Proteine stark {\"u}berexprimiert sind, eine Rolle spielen, m{\"u}ssen k{\"u}nftige Untersuchungen zeigen. In dieser Arbeit konnte also gezeigt werden, dass HMGA1 Proteine die Chromatinstruktur auf drei Ebenen organisieren k{\"o}nnen: Durch Beeinflussung der Chromatinzusammensetzung durch Ver{\"a}nderung der Expression von Chromatinproteinen, durch Interaktion mit anderen Architekturelementen des Chromatins und durch Organisation eines potentiellen DNA Ger{\"u}sts.},
  subject      = {Chromatin},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Visan2003,
  author    = {Visan, Ion Lucian},
  title     = {P0 specific T-cell repertoire in wild-type and P0 deficient mice},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-5734},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {Zusammenfassung Das Myelinprotein P0 stellt eine zentrale Komponente f{\"u}r die Stabilit{\"a}t und Funktionalit{\"a}t der Myelinscheiden des peripheren Nervensystems dar. Mutationen des P0-Proteins f{\"u}hren zu verschiedenen, schwer behindernden peripheren Neuropathien wie der Charcot-Marie-Tooth- oder der Dejerine-Sotas-Erkrankung. Wir haben das Tiermodell der P0-Knock-Out-M{\"a}use verwendet, um im Vergleich zu den C57BL/6-Wildtyp-Tieren Selektionsmechanismen des P0-spezifischen T-Zell-Repertoires zu untersuchen. Dazu wurde eine Reihe von {\"u}berlappenden 20-mer-Peptiden benutzt, die die gesamte Aminos{\"a}uresequenz von P0 abdeckten. Mit Hilfe dieser Peptide wurde ein sog. „Epitop-Mapping" der H2-Ab-restringierten T-Zell-Antwort durchgef{\"u}hrt. Auf diese Weise konnte das P0-Peptid 5 (Aminos{\"a}ure 41-60) in der extrazellul{\"a}ren P0-Dom{\"a}ne als immunogene Determinante identifiziert werden. Dieses immunogene Peptid wurde dann f{\"u}r Untersuchungen der Toleranzmechanismen verwendet und zeigte, dass in P0-Knock-Out-M{\"a}usen ein hochreaktives P0-spezifisches T-Zell-Repertoire vorliegt, w{\"a}hrend es in Wildtyp-Tieren inaktiviert ist und so Selbsttoleranz erzeugt wird. Die Toleranzerzeugung in Wildtyp- und heterozygoten P0 +/- M{\"a}usen h{\"a}ngt nicht von der Gen-Dosis ab. P0 ist ein gewebespezifisches Antigen, dessen Expression normalerweise auf myelinisierende Schwann-Zellen beschr{\"a}nkt ist. Die klassischen Vorstellungen zu Toleranzmechanismen gegen{\"u}ber gewebsspezifischen Antigenen schrieben diese vor allem peripheren Immunmechanismen zu. Durch den erstmaligen Nachweis von intrathymischer Expression gewebsspezifischer Antigene wie P0 konnten wir best{\"a}tigen, dass f{\"u}r P0 offensichtlich die Expression deutlich weiter verbreitet ist, insbesondere auch auf Thymus-Stroma-Zellen. Unter Verwendung von Knochenmarkschim{\"a}ren haben wir weitere Untersuchungen durchgef{\"u}hrt, wie Knochenmarks-abstammende Zellen im Vergleich zu nicht-h{\"a}matopoetischen Zellen Toleranz gegen{\"u}ber P0 erzeugen k{\"o}nnen. Unsere Befunde zeigen, dass Knochenmarks-abh{\"a}ngige Zellen nicht ausreichen, um v{\"o}llige Toleranz zu erzeugen. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurde eine P0-Expression auf anderen Geweben wie dem Thymus ben{\"o}tigt, um komplette Toleranz zu erhalten. Wir identifizierten ein kryptisches P0-Peptid 8 und zwei subdominante P0-Peptide 1 und 3. W{\"a}hrend das Peptid 8 sowohl in Wildtyp- als auch Knock-Out-M{\"a}usen erkannt wurde, wurden die Peptide 1 und 3 in Wildtyp-M{\"a}usen nicht als Immunogen erkannt. Die genannten Peptide wurden verwendet, um eine experimentelle autoimmune Neuritis (EAN) zu erzeugen. Mit keinem der experimentellen Ans{\"a}tze konnten wir klinische Zeichen einer EAN generieren, allerdings mit dem Peptid 3 doch Entz{\"u}ndung im peripheren Nerven beobachten. Es werden zuk{\"u}nftig weitere Untersuchungen ben{\"o}tigt, um P0-spezifische T-Zell-Linien zu etablieren und so mit h{\"o}herer Effizienz eine EAN zu erzeugen. Unsere Untersuchungen sprechen daf{\"u}r, dass bei gentherapeutischen Ans{\"a}tzen bei erblichen Neuropathien vorsichtig und schrittweise vorgegangen werden muss, da mit sekund{\"a}rer Autoimmunit{\"a}t und damit Inflammation im peripheren Nerven zu rechnen ist.},
  subject      = {Myelin},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VillalobosWieseImhoffetal.2019,
  author    = {Villalobos, Alvaro S. and Wiese, Jutta and Imhoff, Johannes F. and Dorador, Cristina and Keller, Alexander and Hentschel, Ute},
  title     = {Systematic affiliation and genome analysis of Subtercola vilae DB165T with particular emphasis on cold adaptation of an isolate from a high-altitude cold volcano lake},
  series = {Microorganisms},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Microorganisms},
  number    = {4},
  issn      = {2076-2607},
  doi       = {10.3390/microorganisms7040107},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-197394},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Among the Microbacteriaceae the species of Subtercola and Agreia form closely associated clusters. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated three major phylogenetic branches of these species. One of these branches contains the two psychrophilic species Subtercola frigoramans and Subtercola vilae, together with a larger number of isolates from various cold environments. Genomic evidence supports the separation of Agreia and Subtercola species. In order to gain insight into the ability of S. vilae to adapt to life in this extreme environment, we analyzed the genome with a particular focus on properties related to possible adaptation to a cold environment. General properties of the genome are presented, including carbon and energy metabolism, as well as secondary metabolite production. The repertoire of genes in the genome of S. vilae DB165\(^T\) linked to adaptations to the harsh conditions found in Llullaillaco Volcano Lake includes several mechanisms to transcribe proteins under low temperatures, such as a high number of tRNAs and cold shock proteins. In addition, S. vilae DB165\(^T\) is capable of producing a number of proteins to cope with oxidative stress, which is of particular relevance at low temperature environments, in which reactive oxygen species are more abundant. Most important, it obtains capacities to produce cryo-protectants, and to combat against ice crystal formation, it produces ice-binding proteins. Two new ice-binding proteins were identified which are unique to S. vilae DB165\(^T\). These results indicate that S. vilae has the capacity to employ different mechanisms to live under the extreme and cold conditions prevalent in Llullaillaco Volcano Lake.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VillagomezNuernbergerRequieretal.2021,
  author    = {Villagomez, Gemma N. and N{\"u}rnberger, Fabian and Requier, Fabrice and Schiele, Susanne and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingo},
  title     = {Effects of temperature and photoperiod on the seasonal timing of Western honey bee colonies and an early spring flowering plant},
  series = {Ecology and Evolution},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Ecology and Evolution},
  number    = {12},
  doi       = {10.1002/ece3.7616},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258770},
  pages     = {7834-7849},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Temperature and photoperiod are important Zeitgebers for plants and pollinators to synchronize growth and reproduction with suitable environmental conditions and their mutualistic interaction partners. Global warming can disturb this temporal synchronization since interacting species may respond differently to new combinations of photoperiod and temperature under future climates, but experimental studies on the potential phenological responses of plants and pollinators are lacking. We simulated current and future combinations of temperature and photoperiod to assess effects on the overwintering and spring phenology of an early flowering plant species (Crocus sieberi) and the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). We could show that increased mean temperatures in winter and early spring advanced the flowering phenology of C. sieberi and intensified brood rearing activity of A. mellifera but did not advance their brood rearing activity. Flowering phenology of C. sieberi also relied on photoperiod, while brood rearing activity of A. mellifera did not. The results confirm that increases in temperature can induce changes in phenological responses and suggest that photoperiod can also play a critical role in these responses, with currently unknown consequences for real-world ecosystems in a warming climate.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ViljurAbellaAdameketal.2022,
  author    = {Viljur, Mari-Liis and Abella, Scott R. and Ad{\´a}mek, Martin and Alencar, Janderson Batista Rodrigues and Barber, Nicholas A. and Beudert, Burkhard and Burkle, Laura A. and Cagnolo, Luciano and Campos, Brent R. and Chao, Anne and Chergui, Brahim and Choi, Chang-Yong and Cleary, Daniel F. R. and Davis, Thomas Seth and Dechnik-V{\´a}zquez, Yanus A. and Downing, William M. and Fuentes-Ramirez, Andr{\´e}s and Gandhi, Kamal J. K. and Gehring, Catherine and Georgiev, Kostadin B. and Gimbutas, Mark and Gongalsky, Konstantin B. and Gorbunova, Anastasiya Y. and Greenberg, Cathryn H. and Hylander, Kristoffer and Jules, Erik S. and Korobushkin, Daniil I. and K{\"o}ster, Kajar and Kurth, Valerie and Lanham, Joseph Drew and Lazarina, Maria and Leverkus, Alexandro B. and Lindenmayer, David and Marra, Daniel Magnabosco and Mart{\´i}n-Pinto, Pablo and Meave, Jorge A. and Moretti, Marco and Nam, Hyun-Young and Obrist, Martin K. and Petanidou, Theodora and Pons, Pere and Potts, Simon G. and Rapoport, Irina B. and Rhoades, Paul R. and Richter, Clark and Saifutdinov, Ruslan A. and Sanders, Nathan J. and Santos, Xavier and Steel, Zachary and Tavella, Julia and Wendenburg, Clara and Wermelinger, Beat and Zaitsev, Andrey S. and Thorn, Simon},
  title     = {The effect of natural disturbances on forest biodiversity: an ecological synthesis},
  series = {Biological Reviews},
  volume    = {97},
  journal   = {Biological Reviews},
  number    = {5},
  doi       = {10.1111/brv.12876},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287168},
  pages     = {1930 -- 1947},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Disturbances alter biodiversity via their specific characteristics, including severity and extent in the landscape, which act at different temporal and spatial scales. Biodiversity response to disturbance also depends on the community characteristics and habitat requirements of species. Untangling the mechanistic interplay of these factors has guided disturbance ecology for decades, generating mixed scientific evidence of biodiversity responses to disturbance. Understanding the impact of natural disturbances on biodiversity is increasingly important due to human-induced changes in natural disturbance regimes. In many areas, major natural forest disturbances, such as wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks, are becoming more frequent, intense, severe, and widespread due to climate change and land-use change. Conversely, the suppression of natural disturbances threatens disturbance-dependent biota. Using a meta-analytic approach, we analysed a global data set (with most sampling concentrated in temperate and boreal secondary forests) of species assemblages of 26 taxonomic groups, including plants, animals, and fungi collected from forests affected by wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks. The overall effect of natural disturbances on α-diversity did not differ significantly from zero, but some taxonomic groups responded positively to disturbance, while others tended to respond negatively. Disturbance was beneficial for taxonomic groups preferring conditions associated with open canopies (e.g. hymenopterans and hoverflies), whereas ground-dwelling groups and/or groups typically associated with shady conditions (e.g. epigeic lichens and mycorrhizal fungi) were more likely to be negatively impacted by disturbance. Across all taxonomic groups, the highest α-diversity in disturbed forest patches occurred under moderate disturbance severity, i.e. with approximately 55\% of trees killed by disturbance. We further extended our meta-analysis by applying a unified diversity concept based on Hill numbers to estimate α-diversity changes in different taxonomic groups across a gradient of disturbance severity measured at the stand scale and incorporating other disturbance features. We found that disturbance severity negatively affected diversity for Hill number q = 0 but not for q = 1 and q = 2, indicating that diversity-disturbance relationships are shaped by species relative abundances. Our synthesis of α-diversity was extended by a synthesis of disturbance-induced change in species assemblages, and revealed that disturbance changes the β-diversity of multiple taxonomic groups, including some groups that were not affected at the α-diversity level (birds and woody plants). Finally, we used mixed rarefaction/extrapolation to estimate biodiversity change as a function of the proportion of forests that were disturbed, i.e. the disturbance extent measured at the landscape scale. The comparison of intact and naturally disturbed forests revealed that both types of forests provide habitat for unique species assemblages, whereas species diversity in the mixture of disturbed and undisturbed forests peaked at intermediate values of disturbance extent in the simulated landscape. Hence, the relationship between α-diversity and disturbance severity in disturbed forest stands was strikingly similar to the relationship between species richness and disturbance extent in a landscape consisting of both disturbed and undisturbed forest habitats. This result suggests that both moderate disturbance severity and moderate disturbance extent support the highest levels of biodiversity in contemporary forest landscapes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VikukFuchsKrischkeetal.2020,
  author    = {Vikuk, Veronika and Fuchs, Benjamin and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Rueb, Selina and Krauss, Jochen},
  title     = {Alkaloid Concentrations of Lolium perenne Infected with Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii with Different Detection Methods—A Re-Evaluation of Intoxication Risk in Germany?},
  series = {Journal of Fungi},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Journal of Fungi},
  number    = {3},
  issn      = {2309-608X},
  doi       = {10.3390/jof6030177},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213171},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Mycotoxins in agriculturally used plants can cause intoxication in animals and can lead to severe financial losses for farmers. The endophytic fungus Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii living symbiotically within the cool season grass species Lolium perenne can produce vertebrate and invertebrate toxic alkaloids. Hence, an exact quantitation of alkaloid concentrations is essential to determine intoxication risk for animals. Many studies use different methods to detect alkaloid concentrations, which complicates the comparability. In this study, we showed that alkaloid concentrations of individual plants exceeded toxicity thresholds on real world grasslands in Germany, but not on the population level. Alkaloid concentrations on five German grasslands with high alkaloid levels peaked in summer but were also below toxicity thresholds on population level. Furthermore, we showed that alkaloid concentrations follow the same seasonal trend, regardless of whether plant fresh or dry weight was used, in the field and in a common garden study. However, alkaloid concentrations were around three times higher when detected with dry weight. Finally, we showed that alkaloid concentrations can additionally be biased to different alkaloid detection methods. We highlight that toxicity risks should be analyzed using plant dry weight, but concentration trends of fresh weight are reliable.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Vikuk2020,
  author    = {Vikuk, Veronika},
  title     = {Epichlo{\"e} endophyte-grass symbioses in Germany - Infection rates, alkaloid concentrations and possible intoxication risks},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21389},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213895},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Endophytes live in partial symbiosis inside a plant and have been detected in all tested plants. They belong to the group of fungi or bacteria and their ecological function is mostly unknown. The fungal endophytes of the genus Epichlo{\"e} belong to a special group of endophytes. Epichlo{\"e} endophytes live symbiotically inside cool season grass species and some of them are able to produce alkaloids toxic to vertebrates and insects. Their symbiosis is seen as mutualistic for the following reasons: the fungus provides the plant herbivore resistance by producing alkaloids, and it increases the plant's drought tolerance as well as its biomass production. In return, the grass provides the fungus shelter, nutrients and dispersal. Epichlo{\"e} endophytes are host specific and the ability to produce alkaloids differs between species. In order to estimate intoxication risks in grasslands, it is necessary to detect infection rates of different grass species with Epichlo{\"e} endophytes, and to determine the genotypes and chemotypes of the Epichlo{\"e} species as well as the produced alkaloid concentrations. Factors like land-use intensity or season may have an influence on infection rates and alkaloid concentrations. Also, different methodological approaches may lead to different results. In this doctoral thesis my general aim was to evaluate intoxication risks in German grasslands caused by Epichlo{\"e} endophytes. For that I investigated infection rates of different grass species and the genotypes and chemotypes of their Epichlo{\"e} endophytes in German grasslands (Chapter II). Furthermore, I compared alkaloid concentrations detected with dry and fresh plant weight and different analytical methods. I also detected possible changes on the influence of season or land-use intensity (Chapter III). Additionally, I examined infections with Epichlo{\"e} endophytes and alkaloid concentrations in commercially available grass seed mixtures and determined how that influences the intoxication risk of grazing animals in Europe (Chapter IV). It is of agricultural interest to estimate intoxication risks for grazing livestock on German grasslands due to Epichlo{\"e} infected grass species. Therefore, it is important to investigate which grasses are infected with the Epichlo{\"e} endophyte, if the endophytes have the ability to produce vertebrate and invertebrate toxic alkaloids and if the alkaloids are indeed produced. I showed that Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii infecting agriculturally important Lolium perenne lacked the starting gene for ergovaline biosynthesis. Hence, vertebrate toxic ergovaline was not detected in the majority of the collected L. perenne plants. The detection of alkaloid concentrations is an important tool to estimate intoxication risk for vertebrates, but also invertebrates. My studies showed that the usage of dry plant material is crucial to quantify the correct alkaloid concentrations, and that alkaloid concentrations can vary depending on the detection method. Hence, the usage of validated, similar detection methods is important to be able to compare alkaloid concentrations from different studies. Nevertheless, the trends of seasonal changes and the influence of land-use intensity stayed the same, regardless if dry or fresh plant weight was used. Also, alkaloid concentrations were below toxicity thresholds on population level, regardless of the method used. Two commercially available forage grass and two commercially available turf grass seed mixtures were infected with Epichlo{\"e} endopyhtes and alkaloids were detected. This might contribute to the spreading of Epichlo{\"e} endopyhtes in Germany, therefore seed mixtures should be tested for Epichlo{\"e} infections. My results indicate that the intoxication risk is generally low in Germany at the moment, although that might change due to climate change, an increase of monocultural land-use, or the seeding of Epichlo{\"e} infected grass seeds.},
  subject      = {Endophytische Pilze},
  language  = {en}
}