OUR MEMBERS
The Deng lab uses an integrative approach combining single-cell technologies, culture-independent techniques, multi-omics, and machine learning to understand the underlying mechanisms of phage-host interactions and their impact on the human host.
The group of Microbial Bioinformatics focuses on developing tools for assisting researchers get insights in the composition and role of microbes in diverse environments. We speicalize in integrating big data from multiple omics platforms to understand the way microbes interact with and effect their hosts and their environments
The research work of Professor Gerhard (b. 1968) explores how pathogens interact with the host in gastrointestinal infections. Professor Gerhard’s research group investigates the mechanisms that suppress the immunoresponse of the host to allow the occurrence of infection as well as inflammatory factors involved in the development of cancer.
The main focus of his work is the examination of the genetic diversity of microflora in different environmental compartments. Furthermore, Professor Schloter is involved in several human microbiome initiatives. His main goal is to understand the interaction between microbes and its meaning for ecosystem functionality and performance.
It is our aim
(i) to bridge the gap between agricultural practice and molecular ecology to improve our understanding about sustainable management,
(ii) to understand the influence of global change on microbial networks and the resilience of soil functions,
(iii) to investigate the role of microbes in ecosystem development with a special emphasize on nutrient transformation and soil formation.
Prof. Hall leads a multi-disciplinary team that is seeking to understand microbiome interactions, at the interface of the gut mucosa. We have a particular focus on the early life developmental window, as pregnancy and infancy, and the microbes that colonise during this time (e.g. Bifidobacterium), coincides with key physiological programming, and is when the foundations of future health are laid down.
Our research programme is organised into 3 themes (i) microbe-diet interactions, (ii) infection resistance, and (iii) microbiota-host cross-talk.
The intestinal microbiome plays a crucial role in the course of infections. As part of this research platform, Prof. Bärbel Stecher and her team are examining what exactly happens when gram-negative pathogens and opportunists colonise the intestine.