Wiebke Häger
Om
I am a biochemist with a special interest in plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), particularly those enzymes that target the plant cell wall polysaccharide pectin.
In 2021, I obtained my PhD in Yannick Pauchet’s group “Molecular Biology of the Insect Digestive System” at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. There, I studied how inhibitory proteins from the plant cell wall influenced the pectin digestion system of herbivorous beetles.
Currently, I am working as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Thorsten Hamann’s group “Functional Plant Biology” in the Multiscale Biology section of the Department of Biology. Focusing on the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, the Hamann Lab studies cell wall integrity (CWI) maintenance in plants. The CWI maintenance mechanism comprises a complex network of proteins and signalling events that monitor the state of the cell wall and integrate the information into plant responses to ensure the integrity of the plant cell. CWI can be influenced by external stressors (e.g., drought, salinity or pathogen attacks) or internal cues (e.g. cell wall remodelling during development).
PCWDEs are produced by both, phytopathogens and plants themselves. In my project, I am interested how plants perceive changes in the cell wall and CWI caused by PCWDEs and if plants differentiate between changes in CWI that was caused by internal or external factors.
Teaching
I am involved in the following courses:
BI2015 – Molekylærbiologi, laboratoriekurs
BI3013 – Eksperimentell celle- og molekylærbiologi
BI2012 – Celebiologi, laboratoriekurs
BI1007 – Plantenes struktur og funksjon
BI2080 – Global Change Biology
REFL3080 – Scientific Research Seminar in Natural Resource Management
Background
since 2022 – Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Group “Functional Plant Biology”, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO
2016 – 2021 – Doctoral Researcher with research topic "Biochemistry", Research Group “Molecular Biology of the Insect Digestive System”, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, DE
2013 – 2016 – M. Sc. Biochemistry, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, DE
2010 – 2013 – B. Sc. Biochemie/Molekularbiologie, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, DE
Publikasjoner
2025
-
Dybvik, Terje;
Ashcroft, Felicity Jayne;
Ticha, Tereza;
Sueldo, Daniela Jorgelina;
Eddings, Ryan;
Sirovic, Ana;
Nymark, Marianne;
Wagner, Martin;
Bartosova, Zdenka;
Carstens, Jören.
(2025)
Fylte 24 sekker på 110 meter strand.
Fosna-Folket
Populærvitenskapelig artikkel
2024
-
Nymark, Marianne;
Ashcroft, Felicity Jayne;
Wild, Richard J.;
Häger, Wiebke;
Sirovic, Ana;
Sueldo, Daniela Jorgelina;
Ticha, Tereza;
Wild, Sam;
Liv, Ashcroft;
Carstens, Jören.
(2024)
Fosna-Folkets nyhetsstudio - Det var overaskende å se hvor mye som var kommet i løpet av vinteren.
Fosna-Folket
Populærvitenskapelig artikkel
2022
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2022)
EVOLUTION OF POLYGALACTURONASES AND POLYGALACTURONASEINHIBITING PROTEINS: A VIEW BEYOND THE CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVE.
Annual Plant Reviews online
Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel
-
Kirsch, Roy;
Okamura, Yu;
Häger, Wiebke;
Vogel, Heiko;
Kunert, Grit;
Pauchet, Yannick.
(2022)
Metabolic novelty originating from horizontal gene transfer is
essential for leaf beetle survival.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
Vitenskapelig artikkel
2021
-
Häger, Wiebke.
(2021)
Plant-derived inhibitors targeting a beetle’s pectin digestion: A biochemical study on the interaction between plant cell wall proteins and members of the glycoside hydrolase family 28 from the mustard leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae.
Wiebke Häger
Doktoravhandling
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Wielsch, Natalie;
Shin, Na Ra;
Gebauer-Jung, Steffi;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2021)
New Players in the Interaction Between Beetle Polygalacturonases and Plant Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Proteins: Insights From Proteomics and Gene Expression Analyses.
Frontiers in Plant Science
Vitenskapelig artikkel
2020
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Henning, Jana;
Heckel, David G.;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2020)
Direct evidence for a new mode of plant defense against insects via a novel polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein expression strategy.
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Vitenskapelig artikkel
2015
-
Rahfeld, Peter;
Häger, Wiebke;
Kirsch, Roy;
Pauls, Gerhard;
Becker, Tobias;
Schulze, Eva;
Wielsch, Natalie;
Wang, Ding;
Groth, Marco;
Brandt, Wolfgang.
(2015)
Glandular β-glucosidases in juvenile Chrysomelina leaf beetles support the evolution of a host-plant-dependent chemical defense.
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Vitenskapelig artikkel
Tidsskriftspublikasjoner
-
Dybvik, Terje;
Ashcroft, Felicity Jayne;
Ticha, Tereza;
Sueldo, Daniela Jorgelina;
Eddings, Ryan;
Sirovic, Ana;
Nymark, Marianne;
Wagner, Martin;
Bartosova, Zdenka;
Carstens, Jören.
(2025)
Fylte 24 sekker på 110 meter strand.
Fosna-Folket
Populærvitenskapelig artikkel
-
Nymark, Marianne;
Ashcroft, Felicity Jayne;
Wild, Richard J.;
Häger, Wiebke;
Sirovic, Ana;
Sueldo, Daniela Jorgelina;
Ticha, Tereza;
Wild, Sam;
Liv, Ashcroft;
Carstens, Jören.
(2024)
Fosna-Folkets nyhetsstudio - Det var overaskende å se hvor mye som var kommet i løpet av vinteren.
Fosna-Folket
Populærvitenskapelig artikkel
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Henning, Jana;
Heckel, David G.;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2020)
Direct evidence for a new mode of plant defense against insects via a novel polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein expression strategy.
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Vitenskapelig artikkel
-
Rahfeld, Peter;
Häger, Wiebke;
Kirsch, Roy;
Pauls, Gerhard;
Becker, Tobias;
Schulze, Eva;
Wielsch, Natalie;
Wang, Ding;
Groth, Marco;
Brandt, Wolfgang.
(2015)
Glandular β-glucosidases in juvenile Chrysomelina leaf beetles support the evolution of a host-plant-dependent chemical defense.
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Vitenskapelig artikkel
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Wielsch, Natalie;
Shin, Na Ra;
Gebauer-Jung, Steffi;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2021)
New Players in the Interaction Between Beetle Polygalacturonases and Plant Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Proteins: Insights From Proteomics and Gene Expression Analyses.
Frontiers in Plant Science
Vitenskapelig artikkel
-
Häger, Wiebke;
Pauchet, Yannick;
Kirsch, Roy.
(2022)
EVOLUTION OF POLYGALACTURONASES AND POLYGALACTURONASEINHIBITING PROTEINS: A VIEW BEYOND THE CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVE.
Annual Plant Reviews online
Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel
-
Kirsch, Roy;
Okamura, Yu;
Häger, Wiebke;
Vogel, Heiko;
Kunert, Grit;
Pauchet, Yannick.
(2022)
Metabolic novelty originating from horizontal gene transfer is
essential for leaf beetle survival.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
Vitenskapelig artikkel
Studentoppgave eller avhandling
Formidling
2026
-
KonferanseposterTicha, Michaela; Häger, Wiebke; Lindgren, Mikael; Fjøsne, Mari; Amanda, Dhika; Morghen, Sara; Braun, Nelly Kristin; Saffioti, Francesco; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2026) In vivo FLIM monitoring of turgor-associated changes in plant cells using a genetically encoded biosensor. Gordon Research Conference (GRC) - Salt and Water Stress in Plants
2025
-
KonferanseposterBraun, Nelly Kristin; Saffioti, Francesco; Morghen, Sara; Häger, Wiebke; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2025) Functional characterization of genes mediating drought stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana. SPPS PhD Conference 2025
-
KonferanseposterZwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus; Häger, Wiebke; Ticha, Tereza; Klein, Vivien Jessica; Braun, Nelly Kristin; Ziegler, Christine; Madej, Gregor; Vandegehuchte, Martijn L.; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2025) Characteristics and function of the intracellular region of THESEUS1. Plant Peptide and Receptor Meeting 2025
2024
-
KonferanseposterZwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus; Häger, Wiebke; Ticha, Tereza; Klein, Vivien Jessica; Madej, Gregor; Ziegler, Christine; Vandegehuchte, Martijn L.; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) New constructs for functional characterization of THESEUS1. The Plant Peptides and Receptors Meeting 2024
-
KonferanseposterZwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus; Ticha, Tereza; Häger, Wiebke; Soni, Nancy; Alterås, Bjørnar; Ticha, Michaela; Amanda, Dhika; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) Agrobacterium: Naturens genetiske ingeniør. Researchers' night 2024
-
KonferanseposterTicha, Michaela; Häger, Wiebke; Alonso Baez, Luis; Schulz, Julia; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) PlasmaWall sensors: detecting plasma membrane displacement from the cell wall. UK Plant Biomechanics Day 2024
-
KonferanseposterHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) Characterisation of polygalacturonases in the interaction of parasitic plants and phytopathogens with their host plants. SPPS2024 Conference
-
KonferanseforedragHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) Characterisation of polygalacturonases in the interaction of parasitic plants and phytopathogens with their host plants. 17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants
-
KonferanseforedragHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) Characterisation of polygalacturonases in the interaction of parasitic plants and phytopathogens with their host plants. Botanik-Tagung
-
KonferanseposterHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) Characterisation of polygalacturonases in the interaction of parasitic plants and phytopathogens with their host plants. IBI Day
2023
-
KonferanseforedragHäger, Wiebke. (2023) What makes an enzyme harmful? Exploring the role of cell-wall-degrading polygalacturonases in host parasite interaction. Plant ECR Networking Meeting
-
KonferanseposterHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2023) Unravelling the role of polygalacturonases in the interaction of parasitic plants and phytopathogens with their host plants. XVI Plant Cell Wall Meeting
-
KonferanseposterHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2023) Exploring the role of cell-wall-degrading polygalacturonases in host-parasite interactions. Summer school in bioinformatics 2023
2022
-
KonferanseposterHäger, Wiebke; Bawin, Thomas Georges A; Krause, Kirsten; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2022) Exploring the role of cell-wall-degrading polygalacturonases in host-parasite interactions. Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society Conference 2022