Dr. Carolina Cornejo
Funktion
Technische Mitarbeiterin, Bildungsverantwortliche
Kontakt
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Standort
Birmensdorf Bi PL B 41
Research Interests
Occupation
I started a professional career at WSL in 2001, first in the Research Unit Biodiversity and since 2015 in the Group Phytopathology of the Research Unit Forest Health and Biotic Interactions.
- Currently, I am studying pine pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum, and developing a method to determine molecularly the vegetative compatibility types of Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight.
- Responsible for method development (PCR, sequencing, microsatellites, NGS etc..
- Responsible for supporting and supervising students and scientific guests.
Academic History
2007–2013 PhD at the University of Bern, Institute of Plant Science, and at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
1996–1998 Postgraduate Study in Environmental Sciences at the University of Zurich, Institute of Environmental Sciences
1988–1993 Study in Plant Cytology at the University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Sciences (Diploma in Biology)
Professional Interests
As scientist, I am interested in organisms living in close associations with other organisms, i.e. from pathogenic to mutualistic associations. During my academic formation, I focused on lichens, mutualistic symbioses between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. First, during my Master thesis, I applied light and electron microscopic techniques to study the structural interface between fungus and alga. Later, I replaced the microscope by molecular techniques, and I examined during my PhD the character evolution and species delimitation within a lichen genus (Lobaria).
In my occupation as technical staff member, I am interested in developing and optimizing methods. I am a creative mind in molecular lab, without reservations of the organism or the scientific question. I also have a lot of fun working with people from different scientific backgrounds and cultures. Hence, I teach each year several people in molecular techniques, adapted to their specific projects.
Other activities
At home, I am mother of a wonderful teenager. I love to travel in Latin America and to hike in mountains around the world. And, I am a bookworm and read from thrillers over novels to scientific books, in German or Spanish, rarely in English.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Publications WSL
Scientific publication article peer reviewed
Kupper, Q.; Cornejo, C., 2022: A multiplex PCR approach to determine vegetative incompatibility genotypes and mating type in Cryphonectria parasitica. In: Luchi, N. (eds), 2022: Plant pathology. Method and protocols. New York, NY, Springer. 435-446. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2517-0_25
Sato, Y.; Shahi, S.; Telengech, P.; Hisano, S.; Cornejo, C.; Rigling, D.; Kondo, H.; Suzuki, N., 2022: A new tetra-segmented splipalmivirus with divided RdRP domains from Cryphonectria naterciae, a fungus found on chestnut and cork oak trees in Europe. Virus Research, 307: 198606 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198606
Leigh, D.M.; Peranić, K.; Prospero, S.; Cornejo, C.; Crossed Dsignurković-Perica, M.; Kupper, Q.; Nuskern, L.; Rigling, D.; Jeić, M., 2021: Long-read sequencing reveals the evolutionary drivers of intra-host diversity across natural RNA mycovirus infections. Virus Evolution, 7, 2: 1-14. doi: 10.1093/ve/veab101
Cornejo, C.; Hisano, S.; Bragança, H.; Suzuki, N.; Rigling, D., 2021: A new double-stranded RNA mycovirus in Cryphonectria naterciae is able to cross the species barrier and is deleterious to a new host. Journal of Fungi, 7, 10: 861 (18 pp.). doi: 10.3390/jof7100861
Cornejo, C.; Hauser, A.; Beenken, L.; Cech, T.; Rigling, D., 2021: Cryphonectria carpinicola sp. nov. Associated with hornbeam decline in Europe. Fungal Biology, 125, 5: 347-356. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.11.012
Suzuki, N.; Cornejo, C.; Aulia, A.; Shahi, S.; Hillman, B.I.; Rigling, D., 2021: In-tree behavior of diverse viruses harbored in the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. Journal of Virology, 95, 6: e01962-20 (18 pp.). doi: 10.1128/JVI.01962-20
Leigh, D.M.; Schefer, C.; Cornejo, C., 2020: Determining the suitability of MinION's direct RNA and DNA amplicon sequencing for viral subtype identification. Viruses, 12, 8: 801 (11 pp.). doi: 10.3390/v12080801
Drenkhan, R.; Ganley, B.; Martín-García, J.; Vahalík, P.; Adamson, K.; Adamčíková, K.; Ahumada, R.; Blank, L.; Bragança, H.; Cleary, M.; Cornejo, C.; Mullet, M.S., 2020: Global geographic distribution and host range of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker. Forests, 11, 7: 724 (38 pp.). doi: 10.3390/f11070724
Frey, D.; Fernández Gayubo, S.; Mokrousov, M.; Zanetta, A.; Řiha, M.; Moretti, M.; Cornejo, C., 2019: Phylogenetic notes on the rare Mediterranean digger wasp Psenulus fulvicornis (Schenck, 1857) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) new to Switzerland. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 126, 1: 27-42. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.2619514
Cornejo, C.; Šever, B.; Kupper, Q.; Prospero, S.; Rigling, D., 2019: A multiplexed genotyping assay to determine vegetative incompatibility and mating type in Cryphonectria parasitica. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 155, 1: 81-91. doi: 10.1007/s10658-019-01751-w
Ioos, R.; Aloi, F.; Piškur, B.; Guinet, C.; Mullett, M.; Berbegal, M.; Bragança, H.; Cacciola, S.O.; Oskay, F.; Cornejo, C.; Adamson, K.; Douanla-Meli, C.; Kačergius, A.; Martínez-Álvarez, P.; Nowakowska, J.A.; Luchi, N.; Vettraino, A.M.; Ahumada, R.; Pasquali, M.; ... Aguayo, J., 2019: Transferability of PCR-based diagnostic protocols: an international collaborative case study assessing protocols targeting the quarantine pine pathogen Fusarium circinatum. Scientific Reports, 9, 1: 8195 (17 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44672-8
Rigling, D.; Borst, N.; Cornejo, C.; Supatashvili, A.; Prospero, S., 2018: Genetic and Phenotypic characterization of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 from Eurasian Georgia. Viruses, 10, 12: 687 (13 pp.). doi: 10.3390/v10120687
Cornejo, C.; Chabanenko, S.; Scheidegger, C., 2018: Are species-pairs diverging lineages? A nine-locus analysis uncovers speciation among species-pairs of the Lobaria meridionalis-group (Ascomycota). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 129: 48-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.07.011
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2018: Estimating the timescale of Lobaria diversification. Lichenologist, 50, 1: 113-121. doi: 10.1017/S0024282917000676
Meyer, J.B.; Trapiello, E.; Senn-Irlet, B.; Sieber, T.N.; Cornejo, C.; Aghayeva, D.; González, A.J.; Prospero, S., 2017: Phylogenetic and phenotypic characterisation of Sirococcus castaneae comb. nov. (synonym Diplodina castaneae), a fungal endophyte of European chestnut. Fungal Biology, 121, 8: 625-637. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2017.04.001
Frey, D.; Reisch, C.; Narduzzi-Wicht, B.; Baur, E.; Cornejo, C.; Alessi, M.; Schoenenberger, N., 2017: Historical museum specimens reveal the loss of genetic and morphological diversity due to local extinctions in the endangered water chestnut Trapa natans L. (Lythraceae) from the southern Alpine lake area. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 185: 343-358. doi: 10.1093/botlinnean/box061
Cornejo, C.; Derr, C.; Dillman, K., 2017: Ricasolia amplissima (Lobariaceae): one species, three genotypes and a new taxon from south-eastern Alaska. Lichenologist, 49, 6: 579-596. doi: 10.1017/S002428291700041X
Nadyeina, O.; Zarabska-Bożejewicz, D.; Wiedmer, A.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2017: Polymorphic fungus-specific microsatellite markers of Bactrospora dryina reveal multiple colonizations of trees. Lichenologist, 49, 6: 561-577. doi: 10.1017/S0024282917000548
Mark, K.; Cornejo, C.; Keller, C.; Flück, D.; Scheidegger, C., 2016: Barcoding lichen-forming fungi using 454 pyrosequencing is challenged by artifactual and biological sequence variation. Genome, 59, 9: 685-704. doi: 10.1139/gen-2015-0189
Cornejo, C.; Nelson, P.R.; Stepanchikova, I.; Himelbrant, D.; Jørgensen, P.; Scheidegger, C., 2016: Contrasting pattern of photobiont diversity in the Atlantic and Pacific populations of Erioderma pedicellatum (Pannariaceae). Lichenologist, 48, 4: 275-291. doi: 10.1017/S0024282916000311
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2016: Cyanobacterial gardens: the liverwort Frullania asagrayana acts as a reservoir of lichen photobionts. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 8, 3: 352-357. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.12386
Lendvay, B.; Kadereit, J.W.; Westberg, E.; Cornejo, C.; Pedryc, A.; Höhn, M., 2016: Phylogeography of Syringa josikaea (Oleaceae): early Pleistocene divergence from East Asian relatives and survival in small populations in the Carpathians. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 119, 3: 689-703. doi: 10.1111/bij.12499
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2015: Multi-gene phylogeny of the genus Lobaria: Evidence of species-pair and allopatric cryptic speciation in East Asia. American Journal of Botany, 102, 12: 2058-2073. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1500207
Dal Grande, F.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C.; Beck, A., 2015: Genomic DNA extraction and genotyping of Dictyochlropsis green algae strains. Bio-Protocol, 5, 15: 1-9. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.1545
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C.; Honegger, R., 2015: Axenic cultivation of myelium of the lichenized fungus, Lobaria pulmonaria (Peltigerales, Ascomycota). Bio-Protocol, 5, 13: 1-10. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.1513
Devkota, S.; Cornejo, C.; Werth, S.; Chaudhary, R.P.; Scheidegger, C., 2014: Characterization of microsatellite loci in the Himalayan lichen fungus Lobaria Pindarensis (Lobariaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 2, 5: 1300101 (4 pp.). doi: 10.3732/apps.1300101
Nadyeina, O.; Cornejo, C.; Boluda, C.G.; Myllys, L.; Rico, V.J.; Crespo, A.; Scheidegger, C., 2014: Characterization of microsatellite loci in lichen-forming fungi of Bryoria section Implexae (Parmeliaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 2, 7: 1400037 (4 pp.). doi: 10.3732/apps.1400037
Kophimai, Y.; Peintinger, M.; Werth, S.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C.; Bergamini, A., 2014: Ploidy level, genetic diversity, and differentiation in two closely related mosses, Scorpidium cossonii and S. revolvens (Calliergonaceae). Journal of Bryology, 36, 1: 33-43. doi: 10.1179/1743282013Y.0000000078
Dal Grande, F.; Beck, A.; Cornejo, C.; Singh, G.; Cheenacharoen, S.; Nelsen, M.P.; Scheidegger, C., 2014: Molecular phylogeny and symbiotic selectivity of the green algal genus Dictyochloropsis s.l. (Trebouxiophyceae): a polyphyletic and widespread group forming photobiont-mediated guilds in the lichen family Lobariaceae. New Phytologist, 202, 2: 455-470. doi: 10.1111/nph.12678
Schoebel, C.N.; Brodbeck, S.; Buehler, D.; Cornejo, C.; Gajurel, J.; Hartikainen, H.; Keller, D.; Leys, M.; Říčanová, Š.; Segelbacher, G.; Werth, S.; Csencsics, D., 2013: Lessons learned from microsatellite development for nonmodel organisms using 454 pyrosequencing. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 26, 3: 600-611. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12077
Gajurel, J.P.; Cornejo, C.; Werth, S.; Shrestha, K.K.; Scheidegger, C., 2013: Development and characterization of mcrosatellite loci in the endangered species Taxus wallichiana (Taxaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 1, 3: 1200281 (3 pp.). doi: 10.3732/apps.1200281
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2013: Morphological aspects associated with repair and regeneration in Lobaria pulmonaria and L. amplissima (Peltigerales, Ascomycota). Lichenologist, 45, 2: 285-289. doi: 10.1017/S0024282912000813
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2013: New morphological aspects of cephalodium formation in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (Lecanorales, Ascomycota). Lichenologist, 45, 1: 77-87. doi: 10.1017/S0024282912000631
Werth, S.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2013: Characterization of microsatellite Loci in the Lichen Fungus Lobaria pulmonaria (Lobariaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 1, 2: 1200290 (3 pp.). doi: 10.3732/apps.1200290
Singh, G.; Dal Grande, F.; Cornejo, C.; Schmitt, I.; Scheidegger, C., 2012: Genetic basis of self-incompatibility in the lichen-forming fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and skewed frequency distribution of mating-type idiomorphs: implications for conservation. PLoS One, 7, 12: e51402 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051402
Kophimai, Y.; Cornejo, C.; Peintinger, M.; Bergamini, A.; Scheidegger, C., 2011: Characterization of nuclear microsatellite loci in the calcareous fen specialist Scorpidium Cossonii (Calliergonaceae). American Journal of Botany, 98, 10: e290-e292. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1100144
Widmer, I.; Dal Grande, F.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2010: Highly variable microsatellite markers for the fungal and algal symbionts of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria and challenges in developing biont-specific molecular markers for fungal associations. Fungal Biology, 114, 7: 538-544. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2010.04.003
Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2010: Lobaria macaronesica sp. nov., and the phylogeny of Lobaria sect. Lobaria (Lobariaceae) in Macaronesia. Bryologist, 113, 3: 590-604. doi: 10.1639/0007-2745-113.3.590
Werth, S.; Cornejo, C.; Scheidegger, C., 2010: A species-specific real-time PCR assay for identification of three lichen-forming fungi, Lobaria pulmonaria, Lobaria immixta and Lobaria macaronesica. Molecular Ecology Resources, 10, 2: 401-403. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02760.x
Cornejo, C.; Chabanenko, S.; Scheidegger, C., 2009: Phylogenetic analysis indicates transitions from vegetative to sexual reproduction in the Lobaria retigera group (Lecanoromycetidae, Ascomycota). Lichenologist, 41, 3: 275-284. doi: 10.1017/S0024282909006240
Bettin, O.; Cornejo, C.; Edwards, P.J.; Holderegger, R., 2007: Phylogeography of the high alpine plant Senecio halleri (Asteraceae) in the European Alps: in situ glacial survival with postglacial stepwise dispersal into peripheral areas. Molecular Ecology, 16, 12: 2517-2524. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03273.x
Further scientific publications
Im Jahr 2021 wurde zum zweiten Mal gemäss dem neuen Pflanzengesundheitsrecht (PGesV, PGesV-WBFUVEK, VpM-BAFU) Erhebungen zum möglichen Auftreten von besonders gefährlichen waldrelevanten Schadorganismen durchgeführt.
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Die Erhebungen zum Vorkommen von besonders gefährlichen Schadorganismen für den Wald wurden 2020 gemäss dem neuen Pflanzengesundheitsrecht des Bundes (PGesV, PGesV-WBF-UVEK, VpM-BAFU) durchgeführt. Dabei wird neu zwischen prioritären Quarantäneorganismen, Quarantäneorganismen und geregelten Nicht-Quarantäneorganismen (GNQOs) unterschieden. Eine gezielte Gebietsüberwachung ist für prioritäre und weitere, überwachungspflichtige Quarantäneorganismen vorgesehen, während die GNQOs primär in den Jungpflanzenbetrieben überwacht werden. Zusätzlich werden Warenimporte mit Verpackungsholz kontrolliert und Verdachtsproben aus dem Meldewesen von Waldschutz Schweiz untersucht.
Die jährlichen Erhebungen zum Vorkommen von waldrelevanten Quarantäneschädlingen in der Schweiz wurden in Jungpflanzenbetrieben, in privaten und öffentlichen Grünflächen und im Wald durchgeführt. Zusätzlich wurden Warenimporte mit Verpackungsholz kontrolliert.
Rigling, D.; Buser, C.; Cornejo, C.; Dubach, V.; Hölling, D.; Meyer, J.B.; Prospero, S.; Schneider, S.; Queloz, V., 2019: Überwachung von besonders gefährlichen Schadorganismen für den Wald – Jahresbericht 2018. 53 p.
Rigling, D.; Prospero, S.; Hölling, D.; Schöbel, C.; Cornejo, C.; Schneider, S.; Meier, F.; Dubach, V.; Queloz, V., 2017: Überwachung von besonders gefährlichen Schadorganismen für den Wald – Jahresbericht 2016. 53 p.
Tõrra, T.; Cornejo, C.; Cheenacharoen, S.; Dal Grande, F.; Marmor, L.; Scheidegger, C., 2014: Characterization of fungus-specific microsatellite markers in the lichen fungusi Usnea subfloridana (Parmeliaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 2, 7: 1400034 (3 pp.). doi: 10.3732/apps.1400034
Magazine article and brochures
Queloz, V.; Buser, C.; Dubach, V.; Hölling, D.; Meyer, J.B.; Schneider, S.; Prospero, S.; Cornejo, C.; Rigling, D., 2018: Überwachung von besonders gefährlichen Schadorganismen für den Wald – Jahresbericht 2017. 48 p.
Cornejo, C., 2018: Nouvelle maladie des pins en Europe. Forêt, 71, 5: 19-21.
Cornejo, C., 2017: Eine neue Föhrenkrankheit in Europa. Wald und Holz, 50-52.
Cornejo, C., 2015: Auf der DNA-Spur von gefährlichen Schädlingen. g'plus: Magazin für die grüne Branche, 25: 32-33.