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Stephanie van Wyk
PeerJ Author
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PhD Candidate
University of Pretoria
February 2012
Biochemistry, Microbiology and Genetics
My primary field of study focuses on the microbiology and genetics of agricultural important pathogens. My research objective is to understand the genomic and molecular mechanisms driving speciation and complex phenotypic traits between closely related organisms.
Aspects of my research included using genome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to study global trends in plant pathogens. My research focus lies in determining the exact genetic and genomic determinants driving speciation and evolution of plant pathogenic fungi. My current project is concerned at elucidating patterns of genome defence mechanisms on the pathogenic lineage known as the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex. These fungi are pathogens of staple foods such as maize, corn, and rice and also threaten other economically important South African industries relying on pine and mango trees.
My current research focus is on understanding the Repeat-Induced Point (RIP) mutation pathway in Fusarium lineages. To this end I have developed a method that allows for genome-wide quantification RIP mutations and provide a RIP profile for sequenced fungal genome representatives.
PeerJ Contributions
August 26, 2019
Stephanie van Wyk, Christopher H. Harrison, Brenda D. Wingfield, Lieschen De Vos, Nicolaas A. van der Merwe, Emma T. Steenkamp
April 16, 2019
Marike Palmer, Stephanus N. Venter, Alistair R. McTaggart, Martin P.A. Coetzee, Stephanie Van Wyk, Juanita R. Avontuur, Chrizelle W. Beukes, Gerda Fourie, Quentin C. Santana, Magriet A. Van Der Nest, Jochen Blom, Emma T. Steenkamp