Mahmoud, F.M.; Kusari, S.; Kublik, S.; Benning, S.; Siani, R.; Zühlke, S.; Radl, V.; Mahnkopp-Dirks, F.; Schloter, M. (2023). Complete genome of the endophytic bacterium Priestia megaterium B1, isolated from apple roots. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 12, e01172-22.

• Genome announcement of a unique apple plant root-associated endophytic bacterial strain with plant-growth-promoting potential, ability to enhance plant resistance against stress, thereby contributing in mitigating Apple Replant Disease (ARD).

Li, G.*; Lin, P.; Wang, K.; Gu, C.C.; Kusari, S.* (2022). Artificial intelligence-guided discovery of anticancer lead compounds from plants and associated microorganisms. Trends in Cancer, 8, 65-80. *Corresponding author.

• Artificial intelligence (AI)-guided solutions, including advanced machine learning (ML), to discover anticancer lead compounds, focusing on natural products from plants and associated microorganisms.

Armin, R.; Zühlke, S.; Mahnkopp-Dirks, F.; Winkelmann, T.; Kusari, S.* (2021). Evaluation of apple root-associated endophytic Streptomyces pulveraceus strain ES16 by an OSMAC-assisted metabolomics approach. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 643225. *Corresponding author.

• Established a comprehensive OSMAC-assisted metabolomics approach that elucidates the secreted volatilome (SPME-GC-MS), expressed metabolome (HPLC-HRMSn), and spatial-temporal dynamics of target metabolites (MALDI-HRMSI) of plant or associated bacteria – all guided by the One Strain Many Compounds approach (OSMAC) that enables the chemo-diversity evaluation of microorganisms for selection as biocontrol agents or biologics.

Eckelmann, D.; Spiteller, M.; Kusari, S.* (2018). Spatial-temporal profiling of prodiginines and serratamolides produced by endophytic Serratia marcescens harbored in Maytenus serrata. Scientific Reports (Nature), 8, 5283. *Corresponding author.

• Established an experimental proof-of-concept of ‘balanced antagonism’ and allelopathy between plant-associated endophytic bacteria and fungi, which provides new insights into the physiological and ecological relevance of endophytic compounds within the context of chemoecological interaction occurring between coexisting endophytes.

Eckelmann, D.#; Kusari, S.#,*; Spiteller, M. (2018). Stable isotope labeling of prodiginines and serratamolides produced by Serratia marcescens directly on agar and simultaneous visualization by MALDI-imaging-HRMS. Analytical Chemistry, 90, 13167-13172. #Joint first authors/equal contributions; *Corresponding author.

• Developed a novel, cost- and resource-efficient, rapid, bioanalytical methodology encompassing stable isotope labeling for biosynthetic pathway elucidation and MALDI-HRMSI for in situ visualization and identification of target and non-target compounds without the need of isolating the compounds by MALDI-HRMSI – all in a single measurement.

Kusari, S.; Tatsimo, S. J. N.; Zühlke, S.; Spiteller, M. (2016). Synthetic origin of tramadol in the environment. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 55, 240-243; Angewandte Chemie, 128, 248-251.

• Established a novel methodology to prove the origin of compounds (natural vs. anthropogenic) in plants, microbes or soil by combining high-precision ¹⁴C-accelerator mass spectrometry (¹⁴C-AMS), isotope-ratio MS, HPLC-HRMSn, and labeled hydroponics set-up.
• Selected as a Hot Paper.
• Featured on the Journal Back Cover.
• Angewandte Chemie Official Press Release.

Li, G.; Kusari, S.*; Golz, C.; Laatsch, H.; Strohmann, C.; Spiteller, M.* (2017). Epigenetic modulation of endophytic Eupenicillium sp. LG41 by a histone deacetylase inhibitor for production of decalin-containing compounds. Journal of Natural Products, 80, 983-988. *Corresponding author.

• Established an experimental proof-of-concept of ‘epigenetic modulation’ of plant-associated endophytic microbes using small-molecule epigenetic stimulators to (re-)activate or enhance silent biosynthetic routes to specific metabolites for targeted ecological functions, e.g., enhancing their biochemical competitiveness.

Overcoming replant disease by applying an integrated approach (ORDIAmur): microbial interactions for plant exudates and secondary metabolites. Phase II.

• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
• 2019-2021.
• Principal Investigator and Project Leader.

Phytochem: Cultivation of plant containing bioactive ingredients and their possible usage for cosmetic products.

• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
• 2017-2019.
• Deputy Project Leader and Visiting Lecturer (Egerton University, Kenya).

Overcoming replant disease by applying an integrated approach (ORDIAmur): MALDI-MSI of root exudates and their interaction with microbes. Phase I.

• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
• 2016-2018.
• Co-Principal Investigator and Deputy Project Leader.

Welcome to Africa: Bioprospecting for new antibacterial and anti-inflammatory lead compounds from plants and endophytic fungi.

• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
• 2012-2014.
• Co-Principal Investigator and Visiting Lecturer (University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon).