DOME

Division of Microbial Ecology (DOME)

Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science

About DOME

The Division of Microbial Ecology | DOME at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science | CeMESS is a team of microbiologists and molecular biologists. Our mission is to unravel the complexities of microbial life and its profound impact on our health and environment.

Our researchers explore the evolution, ecophysiology, interactions and functions of microbes across a broad range of systems. We apply cutting-edge methods, from 'omics analysis, to single-cell isotope probing, to microbial imaging, to computational community modelling.

More about CeMESS

News

How Gut Bacteria and Acute Stress Are Linked

16.04.2026 DOME

Possible avenue for new strategies related to acute stress responses and stress-related conditions.

Visit us at Long Night of Research 2026

15.04.2026 CeMESS

We are happy to invite you to the Long Night of Research, Austria’s biggest research-related event, on the 24th of April 2026. The program features…

New paper: Degradation of a green-fodder-derived sulfosugar by cow rumen bacteria

04.04.2026 DOME

Rumen microbiota are essential for cattle husbandry, providing energy and protein through fermentation. However, this symbiotic process also produces…

Matthias Horn elected Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM)

24.03.2026 DOME

DOME | CeMESS professor Matthias Horn has been elected a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. Election to the EAM Fellowship recognises…

22nd ChlamydienWorkshop at the University of Vienna

06.03.2026 DOME

Around 70 researchers from different institutions in ten countries gathered in Vienna for the 22nd ChlamydienWorkshop. The meeting was organized by…

CeMESS welcomes new Scientific Advisory Board

26.02.2026 CeMESS

The new CeMESS Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) paid its inaugural visit to the Centre. An All Hands Meeting introduced CeMESS, and over two days…

Events

Sex and death: contact dependent antagonism in plant pathogenic bacteria

16.04.2026 DOME Lecture Series

Honour McCann

Microbial oral-gut translocation in inflammatory and gastro-intestinal diseases

30.06.2025 DOME Lecture Series

Melanie Schirmer

From the Ocean to the Clinic - Exploring Prophage-driven Pathogen Evolution

26.05.2025 DOME Lecture Series

Carolin Wendling

Latest Publications at DOME

Rigou S, Aldaroub J, Horn M, Aylward FO. Rise of the viral giants: common themes underlying genome gigantism in eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophages. Current Opinion in Microbiology. 2026 Mar 28;91:1-9. 102741. Epub 2026 Mar 28. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2026.102741

Mohammadzadeh R, Mahnert A, Zurabishvili T, Wink L, Kumpitsch C, Habisch H et al. Cross-domain metabolic interactions link Methanobrevibacter smithii to colorectal cancer microbial ecosystems. Nature Communications. 2026 Feb 20. Epub 2026 Feb 20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-69711-7

Zhang R, Mayer L, Hikida H, Shichino Y, Mito M, Willemsen A et al. A giant virus forms a specialized subcellular environment within its amoeba host for efficient translation. Nature Microbiology. 2026 Jan 9;584-596. doi: 10.1101/2024.10.07.616867, 10.1038/s41564-025-02234-x

Ye H, Šlipogor V, Hanson BT, Séneca J, Hausmann B, Herbold CW et al. Associations between gut microbiota and personality traits: insights from a captive common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) colony. Microbiology Spectrum. 2026 Jan 6;14(1):e00443-25. Epub 2025 Nov 18. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00443-25

Iriarte-Mesa C, Juère E, Bileck A, Kremsmayr T, Goodson ML, Ehrlich A et al. Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-Based Formulations for Enhanced Oral Delivery of Peptide Drugs: A Case Study on Insulin. Small. 2026. doi: 10.1002/smll.202513347