Research Interests:

Our laboratory focuses on the physiology, molecular biology and ecology of wood degrading fungi. We work primarily with the brown rot fungi. These organisms are an important component of nutrient cycling in coniferous forests and are economically significant because of their ability to attack and degrade wood products. Brown rot fungi are also potentially of interest in biotechnological applications including bioremediation and bioproducts design.

On-going Projects:

The laboratory currently has funded projects in the following areas:

• Metal transport and toxicity in the brown rot fungi.
• The production of the enyzmes cellobiose dehydrogenase and benzoquinone reductase by wood inhabiting fungi.Wood modification by brown rot fungi – chemical characterization studies
• Detection and characterization of wood biodegradation using molecular analysis
• Role of fungi in biotransformation and nutrient cycling in the forest ecosystem:

FBRI Interview July 20,2007

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/Jellison.m4a