research
Photo: Weiberg lab
Plant-microbe interactions
We investigate the interaction of plants with microbial pathogens on the molecular, cellular and organismal level. Herein, we aim at understanding the underlying mechanisms of pathogen virulence and plant defense.
Cross-kingdom RNAi
Fungal and oomycete pathogens deliver small RNAs into plants to promote infection. These pathogen small RNAs hijack the host RNAi pathway to silence plant defense genes, a virulence strategy known as cross-kingdom RNAi. We have developed GFP-based cross-kingdom RNAi reporters in plants to visualize RNA delivery in live during infection.
Photo: Weiberg lab
Extracellular vesicles
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 50-500 nm lipid-based nanoparticles that can be found in microbial pathogens, plants and animals. Fungi and plants utilize EVs to transport proteins and RNA across organisms during infection to support infection or host defense.
News
- 4 December 2025|abc
End of year Christmas celebrations
The Weiberg Lab, together with the group of Prof. Dr. Julia Kehr, will hold a joint Christmas celebration on the 4th of December.
We are looking forward to celebrating the season together and sharing a pleasant evening with colleagues.
- 4 November 2025|abc
An-Po Cheng graduates with summa cum laude
The Weiberg lab is proud to share the achievement of An-Po Cheng and is excited to celebrate this important milestone. An-Po’s hard work on understanding the function pathogen Argonautes in cross-kingdom RNAi and scientific excellence have...
- 21 October 2025|abc
The new semester begins — and so does our seminar series “Small RNAs in Plant–Microbe Interactions” (61-585)!
Arne will host a weekly journal club introducing students to the exciting field of RNA interference (RNAi) and exploring its crucial role in plant–pathogen interactions.
When?
Schedule: 24 October 2025 – 30 January 2026
Fridays, 10:15 –... - 1 August 2025|abc
Adrian joins as a research assistant
We are excited to welcome Adrian to the AG Weiberg team! Having recently completed his Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at LMU Munich, Adrian rejoins our group after previously working with us during his internship in...
- 9 June 2025|UHH
Hamburg Meeting 2025: exRNA Research and Innovation to Improve Human and Plant Health
AG Weiberg is delighted to organize the upcoming COST-Action Meeting on “exRNA Research and Innovation to Improve Human and Plant Health,” taking place from 11–13 June 2025 at the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) c/o DESY. The...
- 1 April 2025|abc
AG Weiberg starts at UHH
Exciting news!
The Weiberg Lab has started at the University of Hamburg. We study RNA biology in plant-microbe interactions, focusing on infection and cross-kingdom communication. If this sparks your interest, stay tuned for positions and...