Prof. Dr. Arthur Pfitzner
artur.pfitzner@uni-hohenheim.de
During my work at the University of Hohenheim from 1995 to 2023, I represented the Department of GENERAL VIROLOGY together with my wife, Dr. Ursula Pfitzner. Our research focuses on algal viruses and virus defense in plants.
Our most important research results are the isolation and characterization of the new and ubiquitous algal virus ATCV-1 and the identification of conserved transcription factors responsible for the regulation of viral genes in algae, plants and human cells. We also characterized viral genes, including an RNase and a ubiquitin ligase, which suppress the anti-viral response of algae.
As part of our studies on virus defense in plants, we succeeded in identifying and functionally analyzing an already known key protein as a receptor for the pathogen defense hormone salicylic acid (SA). Furthermore, we discovered new regulatory proteins, NIMIN proteins, which interact with the SA receptor and mediate between SA-induced defense and cell death response of the plant.