Address: Room 241, T8 Block – VNU University of Science 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Tel: (84) 24 35575492

Current staffs:

	Head: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Van Tuan, Lecturer Education: PhD 2011, University of Goettingen, Germany Postdoc: University of Goettingen, Germany (2011-2013) Specification: Molecular Microbiology, Fungal Genetics Tel:  (84)24 35545492  Email: tuantran@vnu.edu.vn
	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Van, Lecturer Education: PhD 2005, University of Greifswald, Germany Specification: Genetics, Bioorganic chemistry Tel:  (84)24 38584748  Email: nguyenthihongvan@hus.edu.vn
	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Do Thi Phuc, Lecturer Education: PhD 2007, University of Greifswald, Germany Postdoc: Mark Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Germany (2007-2012) Specification: Genetics, Molecular Plant Physiology Tel: (84)24 38584748  Email: dothiphuc13380@yahoo.com
	Dr. Tran Duc Long, Lecturer Education: PhD 2013, National University of Singapore Specification: Genetics, Developmental Biology  Tel: (84)2438584748  Email: longtd@hus.edu.vn
	MSc. Tran Thi Thuy Anh, Researcher Education: MSc 2005, VNU University of Science, Hanoi Specification: Genetics, Biochemistry Tel: (84)24 38584748  Email: tranthuyanh81@gmail.com

Research interests and activities

• Development of highly efficient systems for genetics transformation, recombinant gene expression and genome editing for some industrial fungi (Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Cordyceps militaris, Monascus purpureus, …) to generate hyper-producing mutans for enzymes/proteins and bioactive substances.
• Application of biotechnological advances to investigate molecular mechanism of plant infection by fungal pathogens and to produce new microbial products for efficiently controlling these phytopathogens.
• Exploitation of genome databases and molecular biology tools for hybridization to create novel strains of the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris with high yields of fruiting body formation.
• Molecular characterization of abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in some important crops.
• Screening/identification of gene mutations related to some human diseases and specific biomarkers for respective diagnostic assays.

Selected research projects:

• Development of a new gene expression system in the medicinal fungus Cordyceps militaris for production of recombinant enzymes and bioactive substances (2020-2022), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, code: KLEPT.20.03. PI: Dr. Pham Thi Thu Huong, Key investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan.
• Research and development of new technologies for breeding, restoring and maintaining medicinal Cordyceps militaris strains with high efficiency in fruiting body formation and cordycepin biosynthesis (2020-2022), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, code: QG.20.19. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan.
• Investigation of the genes involved in the velvet protein complex in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium digitatum (2018-2021), Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam, NAFOSTED, code: 106.04-2018.36. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan.
• Study on gene encoding host-defense peptide cathelicidin from indigenous bovine breeds of Vietnam (2018-2020), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, code: KLEPT.18.02. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Van.
• Development and application of novel binary vectors for genetic engineering of filamentous fungi by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer (2015-2018). Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam, NAFOSTED, code: 106-NN.04-2014.75. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan.
• Molecular characterization of salt tolerance in rice by analyzing Na+ transporter genes (2014-2017). Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam, NAFOSTED, code: 106-NN.02-2013.47. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Thi Phuc.
• Construction of a vector system for gene expression to improve efficacy of enzyme biosynthesis in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae (2014-2016). Vietnam National University, Hanoi, code: KLEPT.14.01. PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan.

Selected Publications:

• Thai HD, Nguyen TBP, Nguyen VM, Nguyen QH, Tran VT (2021). Development of a new Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system based on a dual auxotrophic approach in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 37: 92.
• Binh CT, Thai HD, Ha BTV, Tran VT (2021). Establishment of a new and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in the nematicidal fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum. Microbiological Research 249: 126773.
• Annalena M Höfer, Rebekka Harting, Nils F Aßmann, Jennifer Gerke, Kerstin Schmitt, Jessica Starke, Özgür Bayram, Van-Tuan Tran, Oliver Valerius, Susanna A Braus-Stromeyer, Gerhard H Braus (2021). The velvet protein Vel1 controls initial plant root colonization and conidia formation for xylem distribution in Verticillium wilt. PLOS Genetics 17: e1009434.
• Rebekka Harting, Annalena Höfer, Van-Tuan Tran, Lisa-Maria Weinhold, Sina Barghahn, Rabea Schlüter, Gerhard H Braus (2020). The Vta1 transcriptional regulator is required for microsclerotia melanization in Verticillium dahliae. Fungal Biology 124: 490-500.
• Phuc Thi Do, Duong Huy Nguyen, Hanh Thi Tang (2020). Analysis of natural variation in OsHKT1;1 gene sequence and gene expression in relation to salinity in rice (Oryza sativa L.), Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 30: 163-174.
• Tao Xuan Vu, Ha Hong Vu, Giang Thu Nguyen, Hien Thu Vu, Linh Thi Dam Mai, Duc-Ngoc Pham, Diep Hong Le, Huy Quang Nguyen, Van-Tuan Tran (2019). A newly constructed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system revealed the influence of nitrogen sources on the function of the LaeA regulator in Penicillium chrysogenum. Fungal Biology 123: 830-842.
• Yunlong Sun, Yali Niu, Bin He, Long Ma, Ganghua Li, Van-Tuan Tran, Bin Zeng, Zhihong Hu (2019). A dual selection marker transformation system using Agrobacterium tumefaciens for the industrial Aspergillus oryzae 3.042. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 29: 230-234.
• Tri‐Thuc Bui, Rebekka Harting, Susanna A Braus‐Stromeyer, Van‐Tuan Tran, Miriam Leonard, Annalena Höfer, Anja Abelmann, Fruzsina Bakti, Oliver Valerius, Rabea Schlüter, Claire E Stanley, Alinne Ambrósio, Gerhard H Braus (2019). Verticillium dahliae transcription factors Som1 and Vta3 control microsclerotia formation and sequential steps of plant root penetration and colonisation to induce disease. New Phytologist 221: 2138-2159.
• Yunlong Sun, Yali Niu, Hui Huang, Bin He, Long Ma, Yayi Tu, Van-Tuan Tran, Bin Zeng, Zhihong Hu (2019). Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase MVD/Erg19 is required for ergosterol biosynthesis, growth, sporulation and stress tolerance in Aspergillus oryzae. Frontiers in Microbiology 10: 1074.
• Tao Xuan Vu, Tho Tien Ngo, Linh Thi Dam Mai, Tri-Thuc Bui, Diep Hong Le, Ha Thi Viet Bui, Huy Quang Nguyen, Binh Xuan Ngo, Van-Tuan Tran (2018). A highly efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system for the postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum using DsRed and GFP to visualize citrus host colonization. Journal of Microbiological Methods 144: 134-144.
• Khuyen Thi Nguyen, Quynh Ngoc Ho, Loc Thi Binh Xuan Do, Linh Thi Dam Mai, Duc-Ngoc Pham, Huyen Thi Thanh Tran, Diep Hong Le, Huy Quang Nguyen, Van-Tuan Tran (2017). A new and efficient approach for construction of uridine/uracil auxotrophic mutants in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 33(6): 107.
• Khuyen Thi Nguyen, Quynh Ngoc Ho, Thu Ha Pham, Tuan Nghia Phan, Van Tuan Tran (2016). The construction and use of versatile binary vectors carrying pyrG auxotrophic marker and fluorescent reporter genes for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Aspergillus oryzae. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 32(12): 204.
• Pham Quynh-Hoa, Tran Xuan-An, Nguyen Thi-Nha-Trang, Tran Thi-Thuy-Anh, Hoang Hai-Yen, Nguyen Thi-Hong-Van, Trang Thi-Hanh, Do Phuc Thi (2016). Investigation of polymorphisms in the coding region of OsHKT1 gene in relation to salinity in rice. Rice Science 23(6): 334-338.