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

New publication in the JACS: A Metabolite of Pseudomonas Triggers Prophage-Selective Lysogenic to Lytic Conversion in Staphylococcus aureus

17.08.2021 CeMESS

Bacteriophages are still a relatively unknown component of the human microbiome. However, they can play a powerful role in the life cycles of…

New paper in PNAS: Global biogeography of lucinid symbionts

13.07.2021 DOME

This pandemic year has seen us confined to our homes and restricted from travelling the world.

FWF grant from the 1000 ideas program for Dimitra Sakoula

07.07.2021 DOME

Dimitra Sakoula, working as a Postdoc in the nitrification group obtained funding from the “1000 Ideas Program” of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).…

New publications in mSystems and The ISME Journal: Acidobacteria persist in soils through beneficial physiological features

07.07.2021 DOME

Soils are one of the most diverse habitats on the planet. More than thousand microbial species that significantly influence numerous environmental…

New Paper in Nature Communications: Pangenomics reveals alternative environmental lifestyles among chlamydiae

29.06.2021 DOME

Chlamydiae are strictly intracellular bacteria and have long been considered primarily as major pathogens of humans. Yet, the phylum Chlamydiae is…

New CMESS report out now

25.06.2021 CeMESS

Our research, facilities, and faculty – our new CMESS report with insights into our work and organisation has just been published. The report outlines…

Events

Three amazing ideas about microbial biogeography that will blow your mind

16.05.2019 DOME Lecture Series

Daniel H. Buckley

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