Apl. Prof. Dr. Martin Ludwig Niessen

Academic Career and Research Areas

Prof. Niessen (*1958) conducts research in the field of food mycology on the relationship between food quality and fungal contamination. Of particular interest are species that pose a health risk to the consumer due to mycotoxin formation, as well as species that lead to overfoaming (gushing) in carbonated beverages (beer, sparkling wine) through the formation of surface-active proteins. One focus of the studies is on the rapid molecular biological detection of organisms.

Prof. Niessen studied biology at RWTH Aachen University with a focus on mycology and plant physiology. He conducted research at TUM on the effects of fungal contamination in brewing cereals on the quality and safety of beer, and received his doctorate in 1993. He then conducted research at TUM on the application of molecular biological methods to detect mold in food, where he completed his habilitation in 2002. From 2002 to 2010 he was a private lecturer at TUM, where he was appointed associate professor for microbiology in 2010.

Awards

  • Brigitte Gedek Science Award for Mycotoxin Research (2018)
  • Dr. Nienaber Foundation Science Award (2007)
  • Stockmeyer Science Award (1999)

Ulrich, S., Niessen, L., Ekruth, J., Schäfer, C., Kaltner, F., & Gottschalk, C.: “Truncated satratoxin gene clusters in selected isolates of the atranone chemotype of Stachybotrys chartarum (Ehrenb.) S. Hughes”. Mycotoxin research. 2020; 36(1), 83-91.

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Niessen, L., Bechtner, J., Fodil, S., Taniwaki, M. H., & Vogel, R. F.: “LAMP-based group specific detection of aflatoxin producers within Aspergillus section Flavi in food raw materials, spices, and dried fruit using neutral red for visible-light signal detection”. International journal of food microbiology. 2018; 266, 241-250.

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Niessen L: “Fungal Contamination of Barley and Malt”. Bokulich NA and Bamforth CW (eds.) Brewing Microbiology: Current Research, Omics and Microbial Ecology, Kaister Academic Press. 2017; 197-217.

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Niessen, L.: “Current state and future perspectives of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based diagnosis of filamentous fungi and yeasts”. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2015; 99(2), 553-574.

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Stübner, M., Lutterschmid, G., Vogel, R. F., & Niessen, L.: “Heterologous expression of the hydrophobin FcHyd5p from Fusarium culmorum in Pichia pastoris and evaluation of its surface activity and contribution to gushing of carbonated beverages”. International journal of food microbiology. 2010; 141(1-2), 110-115.

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