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

Nina Bartlau featured in ARD Wissen documentary

20.11.2024 DOME

DOME's Nina Bartlau shares her expertise on phage research in the ARD Wissen documentary, exploring innovative solutions to antibiotic resistance.

Parkinson's Drug Disrupts Gut Microbiome Due to Iron Deficiency

20.11.2024 DOME

A new study, conducted within the framework of the FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence “Microbiomes drive Planetary Health”, and published in Nature…

Three CeMESS Scientists Recognized as “Highly Cited Researchers”

19.11.2024 CeMESS

CeMESS is proud to celebrate Andreas Richter (TER), Michael Wagner (DOME), and Wolfgang Wanek (TER) for their inclusion in the 2024 Clarivate list of…

BaMiKo: More Dietary Fibers for a Healthier Life!

07.11.2024 DOME

As part of the science communication project BaMiKo, led by David Berry at CeMESS and funded by the FWF, students have created cooking videos…

ERC Synergy Grant awarded to Katharina Kitzinger

05.11.2024 DOME

A new research project led by a team of four scientists, including CeMESS Senior Scientist Katharina Kitzinger, alongside researchers from Denmark,…

Now out in Science: Catching prey with grappling hooks and cannons

18.10.2024 DOME

Researchers at ETH Zurich, in collaboration with Martin Polz and Nina Bartlau at CeMESS, have studied the unusual arsenal of weapons of a predatory…

Events

Towards an in-depth understanding and accurate prediction of environmental biotransformation of chemicals

16.01.2020 DOME Lecture Series

Kathrin Fenner

Parammox: a new microbial ammonia oxidation pathway

12.12.2019 DOME Lecture Series

Shuang-Jiang Liu

Non-genetic inheritance, trait evolution, and primary production in changing aquatic environments

21.11.2019 DOME Lecture Series

Sinead Collins

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