Anna Birgitta Ohlsson

Research interests

In my research, as Associate Professor (Docent) in Biochemistry within the group of Ecological Plant Biochemistry, I investigate how to utilize and stimulate the natural protection mechanisms in plants, to find ways to decrease the use of toxic pesticides in forestry and agriculture. By pre-treatment of seeds and young seedlings in the greenhouse, the plants' defensive capacity against different kinds of biotic and abiotic stress can be strengthened, when planted in the field. Although aiming at application, basic research regarding defense signaling and gene activation, particularly in connection to epigenetic mechanisms, are important topics in my research. In association with this, the role of oxidative stress in defense activation is also studied.

In cooperation with other research groups the defense strategies are tested in plants of different species. Examples of projects are protection of pine and spruce seedlings against attack by the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), and strawberry plants against different species of instects and fungi.

Together with Forest and Wood Technology, Dalarna UniversityandOrganic/Ecological Chemistry, KTH,an article describing effects of UV-B exposure on greenhouse grown spruce seedlings was published (Ohlsson et al. 2013, doi:10.1515/znc-2013-3-410). This investigation showed that a short UV-B exposure caused an increased release of certain volatile terpenoid compounds known to have repellent or antifeedant effects on pine weevils, as well as epigenetic changes. A field study (Berglund et al. 2016, doi:10.1093/forestry/cpv040) showed positive effects on defense against pine weevil attack on spruce seedlings after different treatments, for example a short seed treatment with nicotinamide (Vitamin B3).

Potentiation of the agricultural plants' own defense by using natural nontoxic compounds is investigated in cooperation withDepartment of Zoology, SU.

Within a cooperation withThe Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University,we showed increased tolerance of willow (Salix viminalis) to Cd, Cu and Zn after treatment with nicotinamide or nicotinic acid (Ohlsson et al. 2008, doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2008.04.004).

In 2017 we published an article (Berglund et al. 2017, doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.07.023) showing that nicotinamide and nicotinic acid can protect plant cells from oxidative stress and DNA strand breakage. Furthermore, nicotinamide caused DNA hypomethylation, an epigenetic effect which can be important for the increased expression of defense related genes, shown in our previous research. The results are in line with our hypothesis that nicotinamide and/or nicotinic acid have important roles as defense mediating compounds.

A line through my research has been a hypothetical role of nicotinamide and nicotinic acid as signaling/regulatory molecules in plant defense. This is supported by a study of the transcriptome in spruce seedlings grown from seeds treated with nicotinamide (Laurell et al. 2021, doi:10.1007/s11676-021-01410-z).

As a complement to experiments in intact plants, plant cell cultures are used to get rapid answers to specific questions. Plant cell and tissue cultures is a controlled and convenient experimental system for basic research. In part, my research has been performed in plant cell cultures of a number of species and various degree of differentiation, for example foxglove (Digitalis lanata), periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), garden pea (Pisum sativum), carrot (Daucus carota), hybrid aspen (Populus tremula ✕tremuloides), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), all of these cultures initiated and established in our research group. Another example is a study regarding effects of the naphthoquinone juglone on oxidative stress and DNA methylation in BY-2 tobacco cell culture (Poborilova et al. 2015,  doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2015.01.005).

Teaching

Part of my time is dedicated to teaching. I am course responsible for some courses given by the School of Biotechnology (see below). The course in Environmental toxicology has a special relation to my research because it points at risks with the use and spread of toxic compounds and how we should try to avoid that. This optional course attracts many master students each year, which may be seen as an indication of what students think is important.

Research group and cooperations

Assoc. Prof. Torkel Berglund (Ecological Plant Biochemistry, School of Biotechnology, KTH)

Research cooperations:
- Prof. Anders Lindström (School of Technology and Business Studies/Forest and Wood Technology, Dalarna University)
- Prof. Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson (Ecological Chemistry Group, Dep of Chemistry, KTH)
- Assoc. Prof. Raimondas Mozuraitis (Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University)
- Assoc. Prof. Gunaratna Kuttuwa Rajarao (Industrial Biotechnology, KTH)
- Assoc. Prof. Benedicte Albrectsen, Umeå University

Some recent students and visiting researchers:

- Frida Söderström, Bachelor of science project
- Lovisa Vejde, Master project
- Deepesh Dhakad, Exchange student, India
- Olivia Ünesi, Master project
- Cecilia Laurell, Researcher
- Léo Lienard, Master project
- Filippa Lavebratt, Master project
- Hilal Ayan, Master project
- Ludwika Komajda, Bachelor of science project
- Åsa Åhlander, Bachelor of science project
- Kanar Mahmud, Master project
- Sanna Windh, Bachelor of science project
- Zuzana Pobořilová, PhD, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic.
- Malin Ebbinge, Master project
- Tobias Wallin, Master project
- Elin Sperber Ossiansson, Master project
- Anna Vildová,  Post Doc, Czech Republic