Uni-Tübingen

History


VAAM 2016

RTG1708 member Alexander Klotz has won the prize for the best poster presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) which took place in Jena between the 13-16 of March 2016.


InfoDay on Light Scattering 2016

Light scattering has become an important technique in the biosciences, as it allows a fast and accurate determination of protein complex masses in solution, while necessitating relatively inexpensive specialized equipment. For this reason, the RTG1708 together with WYATT Technology organized on 19 February 2016 the Light Scattering InfoDay at the University of Tübingen under the name of „Illuming Insights: How Wyatt´s Light Scattering Toolbox Contributes to the characerization of proteins“.

About 40 participants including PhD students and PIs from the University of Tübingen and other facilities did profit of the interesting talks held by Dr. Jocks, Dr. Roessner and Dr. Scherrers from WYATT. The presentations introduced scientists to the biophysical background, demonstrated additional applications of the method and discussed potential pitfalls and practical difficulties.

Light scattering methods are commonly used within the RTG. One example presented by Prof. Forchhammer, is the use of Multiangle Lightscattering (MALS) to clarify the assemby state of the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) in Bacillus subtillis contrasting to what had been previously deduced from the GS crystallized structure.


Lots of positive feedback had been given by the assistents, who experienced it as a very helpful and instrumental day.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Dr. Sascha Rexroth, (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany) gives a talk on "Nitrogen storage in Cyanobacteria"

The seminar takes place on Wednesday October 26, 2016 at 10:00 auf der Morgenstelle 28, 9th floor, room 9A23.


Wie scheintote Bakterien wieder zum Leben erwachen

Wissenschaftler der Universität Tübingen entdecken, dass die Wiederbelebung der Zellen strikt genetisch reguliert wird

Viele Bakterien, darunter auch gefährliche Krankheitserreger, können ihren Stoffwechsel stark reduzieren und in ein Ruhestadium übergehen, um Zeiten zu überleben, in denen kein Wachstum möglich ist. Dormanz wird dieses Phänomen genannt, das zum Beispiel bei Nährstoffmangel eintritt. Erstmals ist es Professor Karl Forchhammer und Alexander Klotz vom Interfakultären Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin der Universität Tübingen gemeinsam mit einem internationalen Forscherteam gelungen, den Aufwachprozess der Ruhestadien von Cyanobakterien zu analysieren. Sie stellten fest, dass die Wiederbelebung der Zellen einem strikten genetischen Ablaufplan folgt. Die Studienergebnisse wurden in der Fachzeitschrift Current Biology veröffentlicht. Diese Ergebnisse geben Einblicke in ein bislang unbekanntes lebenserhaltendes Programm und lassen auch Rückschlüsse auf Prozesse der Zellalterung zu.

Die blaugrünen, fotosynthesetreibenden Cyanobakterien sind die älteste Bakteriengruppe auf der Erde, ihre Spuren gehen bis in die Zeit vor drei Milliarden Jahren zurück. Durch ihren Stoffwechsel haben sie die Atmosphäre mit Sauerstoff angereichert und dadurch Leben in seiner heutigen Form ermöglicht. Auch heute noch spielen sie eine wichtige Rolle in den Stoffkreisläufen der Natur. Wenn die zur Verfügung stehenden stickstoffhaltigen Nährstoffe verbraucht sind, stellen viele Cyanobakterien das Wachstum ein und bilden Ruhestadien. Dabei bauen sie den grünen Fotosyntheseapparat ab und bleichen aus. So können sie lange Perioden ohne Nährstoffversorgung überdauern. Erhalten sie aber eine verwertbare Stickstoffquelle, so kehren sie innerhalb von 48 Stunden in ihr normales Leben zurück. „Die Zellen sind nur scheintot. Wie aus dem Nichts kehren ihre Lebensfunktionen zurück“, beschreibt Karl Forchhammer das Aufwachen aus der Dormanz. Bisher war wenig darüber bekannt, was beim Wiedererwachen der Bakterienzellen passiert.

„In unseren Experimenten wurde das Wiederbelebungsprogramm fast augenblicklich nach Zugabe von Nitrat angestoßen“, sagt Forchhammer. „Es läuft hochorganisiert ab.“ In der ersten Phase unterdrückten die Bakterien alle noch verbleibenden Fotosyntheseaktivitäten und setzten stattdessen den Abbau von Reservestoffen in Gang, um schnell Energie zur Verfügung zu stellen. In klarer zeitlicher Abfolge erwachten die verschiedenen zellulären Prozesse. Zuerst wurden die Produktion der Protein-Synthesemaschinerie sowie die Stickstoffaufnahme und -verarbeitung angeschaltet. „Erst nach zwölf bis 16 Stunden wurde die Fotosynthese wieder angeworfen, nach 48 Stunden erreichte sie die volle Kapazität. Dann wachsen und teilen sich die Zellen auch wieder“, sagt Alexander Klotz, Doktorand im Graduiertenkolleg „Molekulare Prinzipien bakterieller Überlebensstrategien“, welches von Professor Forchhammer geleitet wird. Den Beobachtungen der Wissenschaftler zufolge sitzen wichtige Schaltknöpfe zum Steuern des Aufwachprogramms in Abschnitten von nicht-kodierender RNA. Das sind Kopien der Erbsubstanz DNA, die nicht in Proteine übersetzt werden; vielmehr haben sie Regulierungsfunktionen.

„Dieses genetisch kodierte Ruhe- und Wiederbelebungsprogramm ermöglicht den Cyanobakterien die Besiedlung von Lebensräumen, in denen sie immer wieder Stickstoffmangel ausgesetzt sind“, sagt Forchhammer. „Auch dadurch haben sie sich über mehr als zwei Milliarden Jahre der Evolution in ähnlicher Form erhalten.“ Das Phänomen der Dormanz finde sich auch bei vielen anderen Bakterien, vor allem wenn sie in Umgebungen mit Nährstoffknappheit leben. „Man kann die Dauerstadien der Bakterien als eine Art Samenbank ansehen, ein Reservoir an Zellen, die sich jederzeit schnell wieder ausbreiten können“, sagt der Wissenschaftler. „So können zum Beispiel Krankheitserreger aus der Dormanz erwachen und Infektionen auslösen.“ Die neuen Studienergebnisse hätten ein Prinzip aufgedeckt, das für viele Bakterien gilt. „Dies wird uns auch helfen, die Ausbreitung von gefährlichen Bakterien besser kontrollieren zu können.“

Publikation:

Alexander Klotz, Jens Georg, Lenka Bučinská, Satoru Watanabe, Viktoria Reimann, Witold Janus-zewski, Roman Sobotka, Dieter Jendrossek, Wolfgang R. Hess, Karl Forchhammer: Awakening of a dormant cyanobacterium. Resuscitation of chlorotic cells reveals a genetically determined program. Current Biology, DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.054

Kontakt:

Prof. Dr. Karl Forchhammer
Universität Tübingen
Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin
Telefon +49 7071 29-72096
karl.forchhammer[at]uni-tuebingen.de

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Hochschulkommunikation
Dr. Karl Guido Rijkhoek
Leitung


Janna Eberhardt
Forschungsredakteurin
Telefon +49 7071 29-77853
Telefax +49 7071 29-5566
janna.eberhardt[at]uni-tuebingen.de
www.uni-tuebingen.de/aktuelles


Young Scientist Research Prize 2016

RTG1708 member Alexander Zipperer was awarded with the young scientist research prize 2016 for his publication regarding the characterization of Lugdunin, a novel antibiotic produced by Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The prize was awarded by the specialized group "Microbial Pathogenicity" from the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) and the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM). The award ceremony took place on 21.06.2016 in Bad Urach.


Life Science Karrieretag 2016

This year´s Life Science Karrieretag, organised by the Junior GBM Tübingens in cooperation with Praxis and Beruf, will take place on Wednesday 29th of June at the Campus Morgenstelle (Hörsaalzentrum, Room N2) from 13:00-16:00 p.m.

Several career-related short talks will be hold by members of organisations such as VBIO (german association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine), the Academic team of the Job Agency in Reutlingen and companies such as Eurofins Institute Jäger GmbH or Insilico Biotechnology.


More information and the detailed program here


Südwestmetall Research Award 2016

RTG1708 member Dr. Marius Spohn was awarded a research prize for his Doctor thesis entitled "Exploiting gene regulation as an approach to indentify, analyze and utilize the biosynthetic pathways of the glycopeptide ristomycin A and the zincophore [S,S]-EDDS in Amycolatopsis japonicum" by the Südwestmetall association. The award ceremony took place on April 13th 2016 in Stuttgart.


ESBP 2015

RTG1708 member Björn Watzer has won the prize for the best poster presentation at the European Symposium on Biopolymers ESBP2015 in Rome (15-18 September 2015).


ISPP 2015

Seven students form the research training group assisted in the organization and participated in the 15th International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes (ISPP), (Khaled Selim, Amit Shrivastava, Alexander Klotz, Klaus Brilisauer, Rebeca Perez, Björn Watzer and Waldemar Hauf). The conference took place in Tübingen from 2 - 6 August 2015, organized by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hess and Prof. Dr. Karl Forchhammer together with the local organization team, including PD Dr. Iris Maldener.

During the conference, the team of RTG students with their supervisors Maldener and Forchhammer met several of their international partners and RTG guests, such as Conrad Mullineaux (London), John C. Meeks (UC Davis, CA) Elke Dittmann (Potsdam), Graciela Salerno (Buenos Aires), Mike Summers (Northridge, CA, USA) Alicia Muro-Pastor (Sevilla), Javi Espinosa and Asunction Contreras (Alicante), Yukako Hihara (Tokyo) and George Owttrim (Alberta, Canada).


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Professor Dr. George Owttrim (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada) gives a talk on "Role of RNA helicase CrhR in stress adaptation of Synechocystis PCC 6803". The seminar takes place on Friday August 7th , 2015 at 10:15 am, Auf der Morgenstelle, Seminarraum E9A23.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Prof. Dr. Michael Summers (California State University, Northridge, USA) gives a talk on "Identification and Analysis of Proteins involved in Formation/Function of Cyanobacterial Spores and Lipid Droplets".

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on 29 July 2015 at 5 pm auf der Morgenstelle 28, N12.


Explanation of microbiology in daily life together with the “Stiftung Lebenshilfe Zollernalb”

Together with the department “LHZA-gGmbh” from the “Stiftung Lebenshilfe Zollernalb” the GRK 1708 gave a special course on microbiology for handicapped people. Alexander Klotz and Björn Watzer, two members from the GRK 1708, imparted an understanding of microbiology and the university itself. Therefore a common microorganism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), and a common grocery, beer, were used to explain and practice the basics on microbiological work.


This course took place on April 17-18, 2015 at the University Tübingen auf der Morgenstelle 28, 9th floor, and at one of the facilities of the “Stiftung Lebenshilfe Zollernalb” in Bisingen. We are looking forward to redo an event like this.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Professor Hanne Ingmer (Copenhagen, Denmark) gives a talk on "Marine compounds in antivirulence therapy of Staphylococcus aureus."

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday January 27, 2015 at 8:30 auf der Morgenstelle 28, 9th floor, room 9P41.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Dr. Christian Jogler, (Leibniz-Institute Braunschweig, Germany) gives a talk on "Still a bacterium: planctomycetes challenge our concepts of microbial structure and function"

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday January 13, 2015 at 17:00 auf der Morgenstelle 28, 9th floor, room 9P41.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Professor Dr. Jeff Gralnick, University of Minnesota, USA, gives a talk on "Alternative respiratory strategies for microbial survival under anoxic conditions"

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday October 21st 2014 at 8:30 am auf der Morgenstelle 28, 9th floor, room 9P41.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Dr. Pia Killerich, Department of Biology, Genomforskning og Molekylær Biomedicin, University of Copenhagen, Denmark gives a talk on "Next Generation Sequencing-based Anaysis of Complex Bacterial Communities"

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday September 30th 2014 at 17:00 pm auf der Morgenstelle 28, 3rd floor, room 3N12.

Guests are cordially invited.


Joint International Summerschool "Microbes, Host and Infection" 28. - 30. July 2014 in Tübingen, Germany

This Summerschool is organized by the RTG 1708: Bacterial Survival Strategies (University Tübingen), the Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection Biology and Microbiology (IGIM; University Tübingen) and the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS; University Utrecht, NL).

This Summerschool addresses different aspects of the Microbe-Host-Interaction, e.g. survival strategies or different modes of infections by bacteria and viruses.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Dr. Yukako Hihara gives a talk on "High-light stress acclimation of cyanobacteria from the viewpoint of transcriptional regulation"

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday 22th July 2014 at 17:00 pm auf der Morgenstelle 28, 3rd floor, room 3N12.

Guests are cordially invited.


RTG1708 Guestspeaker

Prof. Dr. Assaf Sukenik from the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, Israel gives a talk on "Dormancy andgermination in filamentous cyanobacteria"

Further information concerning this talk are in the announcement.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday 9th July 2014 at 8:30am auf der Morgenstelle 28, 3rd floor, room 3N12.

Guests are cordially invited.


Article of Significant Interest; Picture as Cover Page

Bacillus thuringiensis DB27 Produces Two Novel Protoxins, Cry21Fa1 and Cry21Ha1, Which Act Synergistically against Nematodes

This is the title of the paper the RTG1708 graduate student Igor Iatsenko (MPI for Developmental Biology; Tübingen) and his coworkers published recently in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (Appl.Environ.Microbiol.2014 80(10):3266. DOI10.1128AEM.00464-14). The authors showed that "B.thuringiensis DB27, which is highly virulent to both free-living and animal-parasitic nematodes, relies on two novel plasmid-encoded Cry21-like toxins with synergistic activity. This study identifies novel nematicidal Cry toxins with potential biotechnological application and suggests that nematodes are important targets of B. Thuringiensis that might have facilitated interaction between this bacterium and insects." (Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 2014, 80(10): 2965).


TÜFFF - Tübinger Fenster für Forschung

This year the University Tübingen initiates the "Tübinger Fenster für Forschung" (TÜFFF) for the first time. The interested public is invited to avail itself of the opportunity of getting insights into the Tübinger research community. Different departments,institutes and working groups will give some information on their work either in presentations, guided tours, roadshows, etc.

The RTG1708 got the opportunity to present itself to the public during a poster session. We will give an overview over our program and projects. Several of our graduates are looking forward to welcome the interested guest and answer the questions.

Prof. Forchhammer (IMIT), who is the speaker of the RTG1708, will give a talk on "Zu aktuellen Themen der Mikrobiologie". During his talk he addresses not only the pathogenic properties of microbes but also the enormous potential microorganisms have to produce important and valuable natural compounds.

TÜFFF takes place on April 25th 2014 at the lecture hall at the Morgenstelle 16. The diversified program starts at 17:00.

Further impressions of the "Tübinger Fenster für Forschung".


Nostoc - Microbe of the Year 2014

During their annual meeting on March 28, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main the "Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie" (VAAM) nominated Nostoc
as the microbe of the year 2014.

Nostoc is a multi-cellular microorganism building filaments of hundreds of cells being reminiscent of pearl necklaces. The ability of Nostoc for cell differentiation is notable: within the filament of vegetative cells performing photosynthesis
heterocysts can be found, which perform nitrogen fixation; upon chemical signals from the environment, filaments can break to form small motile units to conquer better places to live; finally single cells can transform to spore like cells, the akinetes, for survival in harsh conditions.

Dr. Iris Maldener (IMIT, Institut für Mikrobiologie/Organismische Interaktionen) investigates the cell differentiation process in two projects. One of this project is performed in the course of the RTG 1708 the other on in the SFB766.

In the RTG1708 Dr. Maldener and her graduate student Rebeca Perez work on "Akinetes: Resistant Cells of Filamentous Cyanobacteria".

For further information on Nostoc please have a look at the corresponding website: mikrobe-des-jahres.de


Shilpa George wins posterprize

Shilpa George from the working group of Prof. Wolz (University Tübingen), attended the 4th International Student Conference on Microbial Communication (MiCom) conducted by the JSMC rorm 31st March - 3rd April 2014 in Jena, Germany to participate in the session "Enemies in the microbial world: Pathogenesis". She won the second poster prize for the best poster.

We compliment her on this success.


Excursion to Novartis, Basel (Switzerland)

The graduates of the RTG 1708 visited the Novartis Campus in Basel on March 13 - 14, 2014. Beside very interesting and informative viewing of several laboratories inside Novartis e.g. Microbiology, Antibodies or Chemistry, they also got a very informative and impressive guided tour at the architecture of the Novartis Campus.

Here you can find the complete program of the excursion to Novartis.


Workshop on Presentation Skills

Dr. Matthias Stoll from the Universität Tübingen is going to teach the graduates of the RTG in several aspects of presentation skills.

During this workshop, which takes place on February 13 - 14, 2014, Dr. Stoll will give information about how to prepare a presentation and how to give a talk.

Registration is necessary and binding and can be done by sending an email to marlene.roettgenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de.


Eurofins MWG Roadshow

Next Generation Sequencing and Genesynthesis are topics almost every scientist who is engaged in molecular biology or genetics is faced with. For this reason the RTG1708 invited Dr. Strittmatter and Mr. Bruyninx from Eurofins MWG GmbH to inform all interested students, PhD students and PIs about the latest news concerning these both topics.

This roadshow will take place on Tuesday February 4, 2014 from 9:30 - 11:30. There will be two very interesting talks, with a coffee break in between, which allows the discussion of own ideas or projects.

After the workshop Dr. Strittmatter and Mr. Bruyninx will be available for discussion of certain projects.

The attendence of the roadshow is free and guests are highly welcome. Due to organisational issues a binding registration not later than 17. January 2014 is necessary. You can register by sending an email to marlene.roettgenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de specifying your name, institute and email-address.

Announcement


Grad-School-Day of the IGIM

The next Grad-School Day will take place on January 31rst from 13:00 - 17:00 in the seminar rooms of the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene and Medical Virology, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6, 72076 Tübingen.

Please find enclosed the program.


Announcement Bettina Böhlendorf

It´s a pleasure for me to inform you that Mrs. Dr. B. Böhelendorf, of DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Switzerland gives a seminar for the RTG concerning the Quality of Experimental Setup and Data Management. This seminar will take place on January 28, 2014. For further information please click here.


4th Methods and Techniques Lectures

The "4th Methods and Techniques Lectures" of the SFB 766, GRK 1708 and the IGIM will take place on December 9th/10th 2013. The lectures will be held during the mornings in the lecture hall N11, Auf der Morgenstelle 3 (Botany).

The organizing committee again arranged a very interesting and diversified program.

During the lectures, methods and techniques of high relevance to practical application in the field of Microbiology and Infection Medicine will be presented to doctoral students and postdocs. Participants will be informed about the existing facilities in Tübingen and the contact person.

After the lectures participants who are interested in certain techniques will get the opportunity to get a practical introduction in the speaker´s lab.


RTG1708 member wins ESBP 2013 poster award

Alexander Klotz from the university of Tübingen won the poster award of the European Symposium on Biopolymers 2013 in Lisbon, Portugal.

He is a member of the RTG 1708 Molecular Principles of Bacterial Survival Strategies since November 2012 and works in the group of Prof. Forchhammer (University Tübingen, IMIT, Dep. Microbiology/Organismic Interactions, Tübingen, Germany). The field of his investigations is the role of Polyhydroxbutyrate (PHB) on the regeneration of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 after chlorosis.


First International Symposium on Bacterial Survival Strategies

The Workshop took place on September 30 - October 2, 2013 in Bad Urach. Please follow the link to get further information concerning the symposium.


12.09.2013

Satoru Watanabe, University Freiburg, Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, gives a talk on "Proliferation mechanism in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942"

19.07.2013

Grad-School-Day of the IGIM (13:30 - 18:00)

Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene and Medical Virology, Lecture hall

04.06.2013

Roman Sobotka, Czech Repulic: Making proteins green - Organization of the translation-translocation apparatus producing chlorophyll-binding proteins

03.06.2013

Ingo Hutschenreuter, Tübingen: "Erfolgreiches Zeitmanagement - Erfolgreich Studieren"; HS N11, Morgenstelle 3; 12:15 - 14:00; Veranstalter ESIT - "Erfolgreich Studieren in Tübingen"

13.05.2013

Berufswege in den Naturwissenschaften, ESIT-"Erfolgreich studieren in Tübingen"

Hörsaal N11, Morgenstelle 3, 14:00 - 17:00

08.05.2013

NET-Symposium (Netzwerk für Elektronenmikroskopie Tübingen)

Universität Tübingen, ZMBP & Evolution und Ökologie

Hörsaal N10, Auf der Morgenstelle 3, 72076 Tübingen

08.05.2013

Visiting Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach, together with students of the Institute of Microbial Genetics

10.04.2013

Dr. Yvonne Zilliges, Freie Universität Berlin, gives a talk on "Gender equality in real life: How to arrange science and childcare. From the experience of a female junior scientist"

19.03.2013

Forschen in Europa: Nationale und europäische Forschungsförderung

- Informationsveranstaltung zur Nachwuchsförderung -

Veranstalter: KoWi

15.02.2013

Visiting the company "Mediagnost" in Reutlingen, together with students of the Institute of Microbial Genetics

01.02 2013

Grad School Day of the Interfaculty Graduate School of Infection (IGIM)

29.01.2013

Dr. Rolf Hecker, Technologietransfer, Universität Tübingen, gives a talk on the transfer of technology and patents.

15.01.2013

Henning Maier, Roche; Mannheim, gives a talk on "Next Generation Sequencing & Metagenomics"

07.01.2013 - 09.01.2013

Photoshop workshop for the GRK-Members at the ZDV

04.12.2012

Prof. Dr. Spiteller gives a talk on "Chemie der Interaktionen von Mikroorganismen mit ihrer Umwelt"

12. - 16.11.2012

Doktorandenwoche an der Universität Tübingen

5. - 6.11.2012

Symposium on Methods at the University Tübingen organiszed by IGIM, GRK1708 and SFB766

25.10.2012

Jochen Mattner: NKT cell activation during microbial infection (SFB Microbiological Colloquium)

24.10.2012

NET-Symposium

26. - 28.9.2012

Retreat in Oberjoch