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

Congratulations Dr. Lucaciu

05.11.2025 DOME

Calin Rares Lucaciu successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled "Computational Challenges in the Assembly and Analysis of Non-Model Plant Genomes…

Image created at DOME featured on the cover of STAR Protocols

06.10.2025 DOME

Ticks are home to a diverse mix of microbial communities – some harmless or even beneficial, others pathogenic. A striking microscopy image by Adnan…

Hanna Koch new Senior Scientist at DOME

29.09.2025 DOME

We are delighted to welcome Hanna Koch as a new Senior Scientist at the Division of Microbial Ecology (DOME), CeMESS.

Who fixes carbon in the dark ocean?

23.09.2025 DOME

A new study led by Barbara Bayer (CeMESS, University of Vienna) discovered that ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms contribute much less to carbon…

28th European Nitrogen Cycle Meeting held at CeMESS

12.09.2025 DOME

The 28th edition of the annual European Nitrogen Cycle Meeting (ENC28) brought together more than 70 participants from institutions in 13 countries at…

Congratulations Dr. Krasenbrink!

11.09.2025 DOME

Julia Krasenbrink successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "Ecophysiology of sulfoquinovose-metabolizing gut bacteria in humans, mice, and cows"…

Events

Origin and evolution of a defensive symbiosis in tortoise leaf beetles

18.04.2024 DOME Lecture Series

Aileen Berasategui López

Conservation of anti-viral immunity across domains of life

14.03.2024 DOME Lecture Series

Aude Bernheim

CANCELLED

07.12.2023 DOME Lecture Series

Avigdor Eldar

Latest Publications at DOME

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

Treichel NS, Pauvert C, Séneca J , Pjevac P , Berry D, Penders J et al. Benchmarking of shotgun sequencing depth reveals the potential and limitations of shallow metagenomics and strain-level analysis. Nature Microbiology. 2026 Apr 21. Epub 2026 Apr 21. doi: 10.1038/s41564-026-02334-2

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

Krasenbrink J, Chen SC, Tanabe TS, Sarikeçe H, Meurs P, Borusak S et al. Sulfoquinovose degradation by cow rumen microbiota. The ISME Journal. 2026 Mar 27. doi: 10.1093/ismejo/wrag069

Barrajon-Santos V, Nepel M, Sudhaus W, Hausmann B, Woebken D , Mayer VE. Vertically transmitted bacterivorous nematodes are consistent nest inhabitants in the Azteca-Cecropia ant-plant mutualism. Scientific Reports. 2026 Feb 25;16(1):1-12. 9624. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-34231-9