Complex Ecological Phenomena Arising from Enzymatic Modification of Chemical Effectors (C07)

• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239748522

Identification of common patterns across different microbial communities can lead to powerful fundamental insights. Current work in ChemBioSys has identified enzymatic modification of secreted chemical effectors as one such common theme. We propose to investigate the complex temporal and spatial dynamics that can emerge in such systems. Specifically, we will investigate systems where one organism secretes a chemical effector to impact a second organism, while a third organism secretes an enzyme that modifies that effector, changing the ecological outcome. Our project will combine theoretical and experimental methodologies.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1127: Chemical Mediators in Complex Biosystems (ChemBioSys)
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Rosalind Allen; Professor Dr. Stefan Schuster