About Me
For the past five years my research has focused on plant-fungal interactions. In my current postdoctoral position, I am investigating the genetic basis of the interaction between Phytophthora agathidicida and kauri (Agathis australis), a native tree of New Zealand having major social importance for Māori. Phytophthora agathidicida is an oomycete pathogen similar to the potato blight agent, Phytophthora infestans which caused the Irish Great Famine in 1845 killing over 1 million people. The goal of this research is to identify candidate effectors (small secreted proteins often essential for disease) using population genetics data, whole genome comparisons and transcriptomic analyses.
My previous research focused on the association between the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae and perennial ryegrass, a key pasture grass in New Zealand, using bioinformatics and next generation sequencing approaches. These associations play an important role in forage improvement as the fungus protects its host against a wide range of pests (insects and pathogenic fungi), and enhances host drought tolerance. My research encompassed three main areas: lateral gene transfer between plant-associated fungi, host transcriptomic responses to endophyte infection, and transcriptomic comparison of mutualistic and pathogenic Epichloë-grass interactions. The study of lateral gene transfer between plant-associated fungi (pathogens, endophytes, mycorrhiza) was based on a genomic comparison of different fungi and started with the annotation of the gene models of Epichloë festucae and perennial ryegrass. My work on host responses to endophyte infection identified transcriptomic and metabolomic signatures of endophyte infection. The comparison of mutualistic and pathogenic interactions was performed on different mutant Epichloë strains that display a switch from a mutualistic to pathogen-like behaviour. A transcriptomic study comparing three of these mutants to the original wild-type association was performed and led to the discovery of a key set of fungal genes involved in symbiosis.
Personal details
| Date of Birth | 24/04/1984 |
| Nationality | French |
| Residency | Permanent New Zealand resident |
Contact Details
Dr. Pierre-Yves Dupont
Institute of Fundamental Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North 4442
New Zealand
+64-6-356 9099 X 85734
p.y.dupont@massey.ac.nz
pierreyves.dupont@gmail.com
Research gate profile