Page 66 - University of Pretoria RESEARCH REVIEW 2018

Fungal pathogens and mating genes
Brenda Wingfield, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, SARChI Chair in Fungal Genomics, and FABI
Mating-type genes are useful in determining the population structure of pathogens, and in understanding the potential of pathogens to recombine and adapt.
found in model species where this locus has suppressed recombination. Using the MAT locus, Wilma Nel, a Master’s student, has shown that Berkeleyomyces species are probably heterothallic. While unexpected,
this finding does account for the
high degree of clonality observed
in population studies of these economically important pathogens.
Having access to the genomes of a number of fungal pathogens has enabled the research group and
Brenda Wingfield, Professor in Genetics and SARChI Chair in Fungal Genomics, works with a team of young researchers on the mating- type genes in fungal pathogens, among a number of research focus areas.
Working on non-model species means that studies on these fungi have revealed some unexpected observations about mating-type genes. Markus Wilken, a postdoctoral fellow, has discovered that the MAT 112 gene is not limited to the MAT1 mating type, as has previously been reported in model species. This
As with Brenda, Mike Wingfield is passionate about capacity building and conscious that African researchers need to play a much larger part in world research. He has had the privilege of working with many young people through their PhD studies and celebrated, in 2018, the completion of the 100th doctoral thesis under his guidance. He also received the UP Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellent Supervision.
Professor Wingfield has achieved both international and national recognition for his research. He is listed among the most highly cited scientists in the world, and one of only 10 scientists in South Africa to have achieved this recognition.
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has implications with regards to
the functions of this gene, a finding that Wilken and research team collaborators published in Fungal Genetics and Biology in 2018. Melissa Simpson in her PhD research has shown that an unexpectedly high rate of recombination is found in the MAT locus in Ceratocystidaceae. Published in Fungal Biology, these findings are in contrast with those