Dr. Christof Rampitsch

Research Scientist

Research Scientist in Proteomics and Biological Mass Spectrometry.

Route 100, Unit 100-101, Morden, Manitoba

Current research and/or projects

My programme uses proteomics, peptidomics, bioinformatics and biological mass spectrometry to investigate plant-pathogen interactions. Research is mainly focused on Puccinia triticina (wheat leaf rust), with emphasis on effector proteins and peptides, and on Fusarium graminearum, with emphasis on mycotoxin biosynthesis regulation.

Our lab collaborates extensively with other researchers who use proteomics but lack the expertize, equipment and software to address complex biological questions. These projects currently involve complex analyses using stable-isotope-labelled tags, label-free quantification, and analyzing post-translational modifications (phosphorylation and redox modifications).

Research and/or project statements

Projects:

Stomata signalling pathways for increasing yield potential in wheat
Mitigating Emerging Threats to Wheat in Canada
Integrated genomics, plant pathology and breeding research for improvement of Fusarium Head Blight resistance in Canadian cereals
Developing “prairie cold tolerance” for early-season germination and establishment in prairie crops

Professional activities / interests

Host-pathogen interactions

Proteomics

Peptidomics

Biological Mass Spectrometry

Education and awards

Ph.D. Plant Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.

M.Sc., Biotechnology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

B.Sc. (Hons) Biochemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

International experience and/or work

Hardware Training: LTQ mass spectrometer (Thermo Training Centre, Palm Beach FL)
Hardware Training: nano HPLC (Dionex Training Centre, Chicago IL)
Software Training: Mascot (MatrixScience Course, Savannah GA)
Sabbatical Leave, University of Zürich/ETH Functional Genomics Centre Zürich CH.
Hardware Training: Q Exactive mass spectrometer (Thermo, on-site)
Software training, MaxQuant, Berlin (Summer School)

Key publications

Eranthodi A, Subramaniam R, Rampitsch C, González-Peña Fundora D, Shostak K, Goyal RK, Schultz EA, Foroud NA. The role of three small secreted cysteine-rich proteins of Fusarium graminearum on fungal growth and plant infection. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum. Milwaukee WI, UNITED STATES, December 3-5, 2017. Poster Presentation
2017 - View publication details
Eranthodi A, Subramaniam R, Rampitsch C, González-Peña Fundora D, Goyal RK, Schultz EA, Foroud NA. Characterization of three secreted cysteine-rich proteins from the secretome of Fusarium graminearum. 3rd Lethbridge Research & Development Centre Graduate Symposium. Lethbridge AB, CANADA, November 22, 2017. (Award Winning Presentation) (Oral Presentation)
2017 - View publication details
Gonzàlez-Peña Fundora D, Eranthodi A, Goyal RK, R. Subramaniam, Rampitsch C, Thakor N, Foroud NA. Generation and characterization of a Fusarium graminearum mutant overexpressing the MAPK, Mgv1. 2017 Joint Meeting of the Canadian Phytopathological Society and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. Winnipeg MB, Canada, June 18-22, 2017. Award Winning Presentation.
2017 - View publication details
Sivagnanam, K., Komatsu, E., Rampitsch, C., Perreault, H., Gräfenhan, T. (2017). Rapid screening of Alternaria mycotoxins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, 97(1), 357-361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7703
2017 - View publication details
Eranthodi, A., Subramaniam, R., Ouellet, T., Rampitsch, C., Foroud, N.A., and Schultz, E.A. (2016). "Mutant-based screening for pathogen-associated molecular patterns involved in Fusarium head blight disease resistance in wheat.", Prairie University Biology Symposium 2016, The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, February 18-20, 2016. (Poster)
2016 - View publication details
Gonzalez-Pena Fundora, D., Thakor, N., Subramaniam, R., Rampitsch, C., and Foroud, N.A. (2016). "Towards the identification of the Mgv1 MAPK pathway in Fusarium graminearum.", Prairie University Biology Symposium 2016, The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, February 18-20, 2016. (Poster)
2016 - View publication details
Eranthodi A, Subramaniam R, Rampitsch C, Ouellet T, Gonzàlez-Peña Fundora D, Vivar M, Zhao W, Goyal RK, Schultz EA, Foroud NA. Fusarium graminearum mutants towards identification of pathogenesis-associated molecular patterns. 2nd Lethbridge Research & Development Centre Graduate Symposium. Lethbridge AB, CANADA, November 30, 2016. Award Winning Presentation
2016 - View publication details
Foroud, N.A., Eranthodi, A., Goyal, R.K., Gonzàlez-Peña Fundora, D., Zhao, W., Vivar, M., Ouellet. T., Subramaniam, R., Rampitsch, C. 2016. Characterization of a secreted Fusarium graminearum elongation factor – an elicitor of host defence? Proceedings of the 8th Canadian Workshop on Fusarium Head Blight, Ottawa, ON, November 20-22 2016. P 19. Invited Oral Presentation.
2016 - View publication details
Eranthodi A, Subramaniam R, Rampitsch C, Ouellet T, Vivar M, Gonzàlez-Peña Fundora D, Zhao W, Goyal RK, Schultz EA, Foroud NA. Characterization of three Fusarium graminearum overexpression mutants and their ability to elicit host defence response in cereals. 8th Canadian Workshop of Fusarium Head Blight, Ottawa ON, CANADA, November 20-22, 2016. p.61
2016 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Bacala, R., Tekauz, A., McCallum, B.D. (2016). Inhibition of Fusarium graminearum and other Fusarium species by Cochlioblolus sativus in culture and on barley plants. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 38(4), 422-429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2016.1243583
2016 - View publication details
Fan, T., Bykova, N.V., Rampitsch, C., Xing, T. (2016). Identification and characterization of a serine protease from wheat leaves. European Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 146(2), 293-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-016-0914-x
2016 - View publication details
Sivagnanam, K., Komatsu, E., Patrick, S., Rampitsch, C., Perreault, H., Gräfenhan, T. (2016). Rapid screening of ergot alkaloids in sclerotia by maldi-tof mass spectrometry, 99(4), 895-898. http://dx.doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.16-0117
2016 - View publication details
McCallum, B.D., Hiebert, C.W., Cloutier, S., Bakkeren, G., Rosa, S.B., Humphreys, D.G., Marais, G.F., McCartney, C.A., Panwar, V., Rampitsch, C., Saville, B.J., Wang, X. (2016). A review of wheat leaf rust research and the development of resistant cultivars in Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 38(1), 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2016.1145598
2016 - View publication details
Eranthodi, A., Subramaniam, R., Ouellet, T., Rampitsch, C., Schultz, E.A., and Foroud, N.A. (2015). "Fusarium graminearum mutant screening towards identification of pathogen-associated molecular patterns in the Fusarium head blight-wheat interaction.", 36th Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, November 16-18, 2015, Oral Presentation.
2015 - View publication details
Eranthodi, A., Subramaniam, R., Rampitsch, C., Ouellet, T., Schultz, E.A., and Foroud, N.A. (2015). "Generation of Fusarium graminearum mutants to screen candidate pathogen-associated molecular patterns.", National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, St. Louis, MO, USA, December 6-8, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Eranthodi, A., Subramaniam, R., Ouellet, T., Rampitsch, C., Schultz, E.A., and Foroud, N.A. (2015). "Towards the identification and characterization of pathogen-associated molecular patterns from the Fusarium graminearum secretome.", 1st Lethbridge Research Centre Graduate Student Symposium, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, November 26, 2015, Award Winning: 2nd Place for Oral Presentation.
2015 - View publication details
Hu, J., Rampitsch, C., Bykova, N.V. (2015). Advances in plant proteomics toward improvement of crop productivity and stress resistance, 6(APR), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00209
2015 - View publication details
Rampitsch, C., Günel, A., Beimcik, E., Mauthe, W. (2015). Proteome of monoclonal antibody-purified haustoria from Puccinia triticina Race-1, 15(7), 1307-1315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201400241
2015 - View publication details
Day, J., Gietz, D.D., Rampitsch, C. (2015). Proteome changes induced by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis ToxA in both insensitive and sensitive wheat indicate senescence-like signaling, 13(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12953-014-0060-3
2015 - View publication details
Bakkeren, G., Fellers, J.P., Panwar, V., Joly, D.L., Szabo, L.J., Kolmer, J.A., Hulbert, S., Wang, M., Yin, C., Chen, X., Rampitsch, C., McCallum, B.D., Wang, X., Goldberg, J., Young, S., Hamelin, R.C., Saville, B.J., and Cuomo, C.A. (2014). "Comparative genomics of rust fungi drives research and innovations.", XXII Plant & Animal Genome Conference, Town & Country Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA, January 10-15, 2014.
2014 - View publication details