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

Katharina Kitzinger Appointed Assistant Professor

10.06.2025 DOME

CeMESS is excited to announce the appointment of Katharina Kitzinger as a new Assistant Professor (Tenure Track). Her research focuses on linking the…

Michael Wagner joins University of Vienna Delegation to EXPO 2025

06.06.2025 DOME

CeMESS Vice Director Michael Wagner represented the University of Vienna at the prestigious “Building Futures” event held at EXPO 2025 in Osaka,…

Congratulations, Dr. Steensen!

05.06.2025 DOME

Kerrin Steensen successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "Diversity and Evolution of Mobile Genetic Elements in Vibrio" on May 26, 2025.

ORF Feature: Research on Fire Salamanders and their Microbiome

13.05.2025 DOME

CeMESS researcher Marie-Therese Fischer (DOME) is investigating the microbiome of fire salamanders in collaboration with Tiergarten Schönbrunn. An ORF…

Open PhD positions Spring 2025

29.04.2025 CeMESS

Several open PhD positions are currently available in our doctoral school.

Congratulations Eloise Atkinson, MSc!

11.04.2025 DOME

Eloise Atkinson successfully defended her MSc thesis "Alternative energy metabolisms in nitrite oxidizers" on 24 March - congratulations Eloise!

Events

Making chemistry visible in complex biological systems

22.04.2021 DOME Lecture Series

Klaus Koren

Exploring viral diversity from the global oceans to the human gut

15.04.2021 DOME Lecture Series

Ann Gregory

Physiological and immunological responses to gut bacterial translocation in humans

08.04.2021 DOME Lecture Series

Suzanne Devkota

Latest Publications at DOME

Ren XY, Lin XY, Tanabe TS , Loy A, Hu L, Zhu YG et al. Evolutionary trajectory of microbial sulfur oxidation pathways recapitulates Earth's oxygenation history. Nature Communications. 2026 Jul 20. Epub 2026 Jul 20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-75310-3

Meier DV, Greve A, de Beer D, Abed RMM, Woebken D. Sulfide-oxidizing potential and hypersalinity tolerance strategies in salt-crust covered coastal microbial mats. ISME Journal. 2026 Jun 26;20(1):1-17. wrag166. doi: 10.1093/ismejo/wrag166

Kralova S, Spacek P, Gafriller J, Bezdicek M, Medvedcova V, Séneca J et al. Kineochelins-A New Group of Siderophores From an Antarctic Bacterium. Microbial Biotechnology. 2026 Jun;19(6):1-24. e70386. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70386

Abergel C, Abrahão JS, Coulibaly F, Fischer M, Jeudy S, Knorr RL et al. Infection cycles of viruses of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota. Nature Reviews. Microbiology. 2026 May 29. Epub 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1038/s41579-026-01319-6

Hodžić A, Kunert M, Juračić M, Veinović G, Sukara R, Tomanović S et al. Immune-mediated microbial interference governs Borrelia colonization of the tick gut. iScience. 2026 May 15;29(5):115628. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115628