Evolutionary Pathogenomics
Microbes are shaped by their evolutionary history, which provides them the genomic framework to cause disease or promote health. The Key lab aims to uncover the genetic mechanisms and phenotypic variation that underlay emergence, transmission and adaptation of harmful or beneficial microbes. We use a systems approach collecting data directly from the host to trace microbial evolution in vivo on dramatically different timescales. Therefore we are probing prehistoric archeological remains, historical specimens, and native microbiome samples, procured with an interdisciplinary team. Our research holds promise to improve disease prevention and intervention.
News
Meet the Team: The lab is presenting this fall at EMBO Reconstructing the Human Past, Symbiosis in context, and CSHL Microbiome.
08/2024: Funding success. 500,000 Euro granted as part of the Pioneering Research program ‘Exploring the Unknown Unknown’ by the Volkswagen foundation.
08/2024: Lilly Bartsch joins for her PhD work about the transmission and adaptation of the human microbiome.
07/2024: Thomas Silvers joins us for his postdoc to work on host-pathogen interactions.
01/2024: Podcast with Felix et al. about paleomicrobiology and the black death (in german).
09/2023: Veronica Rożek joins us for her PhD work. Welcome.
04/2023: Our study about S. aureus evolution during skin colonization on atopic dermatitis patients is published in Cell Host & Microbe. News & Views.
03/2023: A new research project about the developing gut and oral microbiome has started. Volunteers wanted. Website (in german)
02/2022: Anne Kathrine Runge joins us for her postdoc working on ancient microbial genomics. Welcome AK!
06/2021: New preprint by Felix about S. aureus microevolution during colonisation of atopic dermatitis skin
05/2021: Funding success. Felix receives an 80.000Euro boost fund from the Klaus Tschira Foundation.
05/2021: Welcome Ian Light, who joins us as a PhD student!
03/2021: Martin Fenk joins the lab as first PhD student. Huge Welcome!
11/2020: Meike Soerensen joins us as a lab manager. Huge welcome Meike!
09/2020: Official start of the lab. Stay tuned for updates. Exciting times ahead.
05/2020: Funding success. We receive 50.000Euro from EASI-Genomics part of the European Horizon 2020 program.
04/2020: The Key lab has two open calls for PhD students part of the IMPRS-IDI grad school. Come and join us to work on exciting and interdisciplinary projects in bacterial genetics! Read more
02/2020: Our paper about human-pathogen emergence linked to the agricultural transition is published in Nature Ecol & Evol! Covered widely including Science, a News & Views, and the TWiM podcast.
12/2019: Our paper about HOPS is out in Genome Biology. We present a computational tool that facilitates streamlined identification and authentication of ancient microbial DNA from archaeological remains.