Acetogenic Bacteria
Acetogenic bacteria (acetogens) use the ancient and most energy-efficient pathway for carbon dioxide fixation, the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, to sustain life. They play an important role in natural ecosystems, origin of life research, bioremediation and industrial applications.
We use computational microbiology, laboratory cultivation and molecular techniques to study model acetogens, their metabolism and bioremediation potential. Moreover, we investigate extrachromosomal DNA, including prophages and plasmids, to assess their role and impact on central metabolic processes.
Projects:
Extrachromosomal DNA Elements (ecDNA) in acetogenic bacteria
We investigate the function that ecDNA have in acetogenic bacteria. We focus on prohages and plasmids and study their interaction with the host metabolism and the implications for their ecology. We combine computational methods with wet-lab experiments and analytical methods.
Project leader: Donat Crippa