Dr. Hanna Koch
Senior Scientist at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science
Nitrification is a crucial process for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater and drinking water. However, in agricultural systems, it can directly or indirectly contribute to nitrogen loss. To elucidate these microbial processes, Hanna’s research focuses on the physiology, genomics, and ecological distribution of the different nitrifying groups. She applies a combination of comparative genomics and targeted physiological assays to uncover novel functional traits and ecological niches of these microorganisms. A comprehensive understanding of these key nitrogen-transforming guilds is essential not only for optimizing biotechnological processes for nitrogen removal but also for developing strategies to mitigate nitrogen loss from soils and enhance sustainability in agroecosystems.
Publications
Kitzinger K, Koch H, Lücker S, Sedlacek CJ, Herbold C, Schwarz J et al. Characterization of the First “Candidatus Nitrotoga" Isolate Reveals Metabolic Versatility and Separate Evolution of Widespread Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria. mBio. 2018 Jul 10;9(4):e01186-18. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01186-18
Koch H, Lücker S, Albertsen M, Kitzinger K, Herbold C, Spieck E et al. Expanded metabolic versatility of ubiquitous nitrite-oxidizing bacteria from the genus Nitrospira. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). 2015 Sept 8;112(36):11371-11376. Epub 2015 Aug 24. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1506533112
Palatinszky M, Herbold C, Jehmlich N, Pogoda M, Han P, von Bergen M et al. Cyanate as an energy source for nitrifiers. Nature. 2015 Aug 6;524(7563):105–108. doi: 10.1038/nature14856
Pester M, Maixner F, Berry D, Rattei T, Koch H, Lücker S et al. NxrB encoding the beta subunit of nitrite oxidoreductase as functional and phylogenetic marker for nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospira. Environmental Microbiology. 2014 Oct;16(10):3055-3071. Epub 2013 Nov 8. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.12300
Koch H, Galushko A, Albertsen M, Schintlmeister A, Gruber-Dorninger C, Lücker S et al. Growth of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria by aerobic hydrogen oxidation. Science. 2014 Aug 29;345(6200):1052-1054. doi: 10.1126/science.1256985