Mikael Lenz Strube Junior Research Group

The purpose of the research done in the group is to elucidate the mechanisms driving the assembly of microorganisms into microbiomes by introduction of small molecules such as antibiotics and secondary metabolites. 

We utilize a method driven approach encompassing sequencing, chemical analysis, and molecular biology which we condense into biological conclusions using advanced statistical analysis and quantitative modelling.

Of particular interest are generation of model systems as well as the natural microbiomes from which they are derived, such as from water, soil and decomposing fruit, which is profiled by metataxonomic sequencing of bacterial (16S & rpoD), fungal (ITS2) and functional (NRPS/PKS) genes.

Another key research is the longitudinal analysis of pig micro- and resistome in an intensively sampled cohort of pigs treated with or without antibiotics to determine the mechanisms of resistance gene transfer in a natural setting. This is done using high throughput qPCR, metataxonomics and metagenomics.

The group is very collaborative, often managing the data analytics of a variety of projects.