Erik Limpens

Erik Limpens is an EPS Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe symbiosis, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi interactions. He investigates how plants establish and regulate symbiotic relationships with AM fungi, including nutrient exchange, signaling pathways, and genetic regulation.

Key research interests include mycorrhiza formation, symbiotic signaling, and the role of transcription factors in plant-fungal interactions. His work spans from genomic studies of fungal symbionts like Rhizophagus irregularis to molecular analysis of host plant responses in species such as Medicago truncatula.

Recent articles highlight advancements in understanding cross-kingdom nutrient exchange, the role of lysin motif proteins in symbiosis, and the impact of phosphate starvation on arbuscule maintenance. Limpens has co-supervised multiple PhD projects exploring fungal genome dynamics, symbiotic effectors, and tripartite plant-fungus-bacteria interactions.

He contributes to datasets on fungal genome annotation and secretome analysis, advancing tools like single-nucleus sequencing to study fungal nuclear organization. His research bridges molecular biology, genomics, and ecology to elucidate symbiotic mechanisms critical for plant nutrition and ecosystem sustainability.