Marine Research
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, DE
Aim: Investigate how the taxonomic and functional diversity of marine microorganisms affects the bacterially mediated carbon turnover in the Oceans.
Basic research questions:
- Which bacteria degrade sugars in the oceans?
- What mechanisms do they use to do this?
- How do they compete for similar sugars?
Rumen Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, CA
Aim: Investigate prebiotic functional enhancements of rumen microbiomes.
Basic research questions:
- How do prebiotics, such as dietary glycans, affect rumen microbiomes?
- Can we visualise specific functional responses of rumen bacteria in vivo?
- Can we use alternative feed source in livestock, such as seaweed, and do they have a prebiotic effect on rumen microbiomes?
Method Developments
Everywhere and anywhere.
The cell signal is created through their specific uptake of a fluorescently labeled polysaccharides (FLA-PS).
Microbiologists are in the business of describing and explaining the great diversity of microbial life that lives in every kind of habitat. I believe that the most elegant way of doing this is by using images.
Because a picture is worth a thousand words.
Dr. Greta Reintjes 