Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology

The Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology was founded in Marburg Hesse on 1 January 1991. The founding director was Rudolf Thauer, since 1976 professor of microbiology at the Philipps University in Marburg. The Institute explores the ecology of microorganisms in terrestrial habitats, thus in particular soil. In this case, genetics, biochemistry, metabolism, diversity and interactions between organisms in selected habitats or based on specific model organisms are studied. Directors at the MPI are Ralf Conrad, Regine Kahmann and Lotte Søgaard - Andersen.

Organization and Structure

The Institute is divided into four sections, each comprising several working groups. In addition, there are two independent research groups.

  • Department of Biochemistry: Biochemistry of methanogens
  • Microbial protein structure
  • Department of Biogeochemistry Trace gas metabolism of methanogenic degradation
  • Microbiology and symbiosis of termite gut
  • Ecology of denitrifying microorganisms
  • Methane oxidation, rhizosphere, wetlands
  • Molecular Ecology, phylogenetics
  • Department of Ecophysiology Bacterial development genetics of M. xanthus
  • Signal transduction and sporulation in Myxococcus xanthus
  • Intercellular signal exchange
  • Department of Organismic Interactions Molecular Phytopathology
  • Regulation of genes in Ustilago maydis by plant compounds
  • Signal networks in Ustilago maydis
  • Regulation of pathogenic development of Ustilago myadis
  • Specificity of infection and secondary metabolites of phytopathogenic fungi
  • Project groups Molecular Geobiology
  • The ubiquitin system and its role in DNA repair

International Max Planck Research School ( IMPRS )

The Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology operated jointly by the University of Marburg, the International Max Research School for Environmental, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology. The IMPRS is a doctoral program that will be completed in English. It consists of about 30 research groups. Speaker of the IMPRS is Lotte Søgaard - Andersen.

Max Planck Society Basic research Natural science Denitrification Integrated Authority File
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