Current Projects

• Phylogenetic analysis of rhizosphere epi- and / or endophytic bacterial isolates or communities
• Isolation and characterization of novel plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), comparative analysis of 16S- and 23S-rRNA sequence data, full cycle RNA approach
• Comparative analysis of sequence data from alternative phylogenetic marker molecules and other marker genes
• Characterization of diazotrophs in the rhizosphere and functional gene analysis (nifH)
• Development of oligonucleotide probes for FISH analyses in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)
• Transfer of human pathogenic bacteria to organically produced vegetables via the production chain (PhD student Andreas Hofmann)
• Characterization and in situ detection of endofungal bacteria (e.g. Laccaria bicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus) or bacteria attached or affiliated with mycorrhiza
• Ecology of human pathogens and especially food borne pathogens in the rhizosphere of crop plants
• Root colonizing efficiency and PGPR effect of toxin producing Clostridium botulinum strains on clover and grasses,

  in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Helge Böhnel and Dr. Frank Gessler, Institute of Animal Hygiene in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Göttingen

• Characterization of xenobiotic degrading microbes (e.g. pesticides [isoproturone] or other pollutants [tichlorobenzene]), together with Dr. Reiner Schroll und Dr. Ulrike Dörfler (group interactions between organic xenobiotics and soil-plant systems, Insitute of Soil Ecology, http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/iboe/iboe-home/index.html), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health)
• Characterization of signalling compounds derived from rhizosphere associated bacteria affiliated to the genus Burkholderia, together with Dr. Agnes Fekete and Priv. Doz. Dr. Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, Insitute of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/ioec/