Gerhard Adam

Gerhard Adam is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His research focuses on mycotoxin metabolism, plant-fungal interactions, and microbial genetics, with a strong emphasis on Fusarium species and their impact on food safety. He leads and participates in numerous national and international research projects, including those funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), EU, and industry partners.

His academic work centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms of mycotoxin production, detoxification, and resistance, particularly in cereals. Key areas include the role of UDP-glucosyltransferases in deoxynivalenol (DON) resistance, the formation of masked mycotoxins, and the metabolic fate of toxins in plants and animals. He has made significant contributions to the development of biological assays and genetic tools for studying Fusarium virulence and plant resistance.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on metabolomics, enzyme characterization, and the biochemical transformation of mycotoxins. Trends show increasing use of stable isotope-assisted techniques, LC-HRMS, and functional genomics to dissect detoxification pathways. Research spans from fundamental fungal biochemistry to applied food safety solutions, including bioremediation strategies using bacterial lactonases and engineering plant resistance.

Selected Scientific Contributions:

• Project leadership in FWF-funded SFB F37-Fusarium program (2009–2019)
• Development of yeast bioassays for Fusarium mycotoxins
• Characterization of UDP-glucosyltransferases involved in DON detoxification
• Discovery of novel Fusarium metabolites (e.g., gramiketides)
• Investigation of fumonisin self-resistance mechanisms in fungi

Adam actively supervises research theses and collaborates widely within BOKU and international consortia such as FFoQSI and the World Mycotoxin Forum. He regularly presents at major scientific conferences and contributes to public science communication through media and outreach reports.

Laboratories and Research Teams:

• Institute of Microbial Genetics, BOKU Tulln
• Collaborative work with Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics
• FFoQSI – Competence Centre for Food and Biotechnology
• International Fusarium research network