Univ.-Prof. Thomas Böttcher

Professor, joint professorship with the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science and the Faculty of Chemistry

☎ +43 1 4277 70550

✉ thomas.boettcher@univie.ac.at

Thomas Böttcher’s group investigates the chemistry of microbial interactions, as well as chemical strategies for modulating coordinated population behaviours of microbes. Thomas and his team elucidate chemical structures of metabolites that mediate and control interactions between microbes and their human host. Their research exploits these compounds by synthetic chemistry, in order to develop species-specific antibiotics and anti-virulence compounds.

Additionally, the group is interested in chemical probes for active-site directed labelling of virulence-related enzymes and the development of customised inhibitors. Thus, Thomas’ research aims not only to build fundamental knowledge of the chemical interactions of microbes, but also to create chemical tools for precision microbiome interventions, with the ultimate vision of chemical microbiome engineering. Thomas has received a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator grant to investigate the chemistry of prophage induction.

Links

» Lab Website

» Google Scholar

Join the Team

If you are interested in joining our team, explore our open positions and learn more about available PhD and postdoc stipends here.

Teaching

To view Thomas Böttcher's teaching activities at the University of Vienna, visit u:find.

Publications

Steuer, J., Sinn, M., Eble, F., Rütschlin, S., Böttcher, T., Hartig, J. S., & Peter, C. (2024). Cooperative binding of bivalent ligands yields new insights into the guanidine-II riboswitch. NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics, 6(3), [lqae132]. https://doi.org/10.1093/nargab/lqae132

Savchenko, V., Jaegers, M., Rasche, R., Herrmann, E., König, S., Kümmel, D., Böttcher, T., Fetzner, S., & Ernst, S. (2024). Unraveling key steps in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial methylated unsaturated 2-alkyl-4-quinolones of Burkholderia thailandensis. Cell Reports Physical Science, 5(8), [102100]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102100

Savchenko, V., Szamosvári, D., Bao, Y., Pignitter, M., & Böttcher, T. (2023). Biosynthetic flexibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa leads to hydroxylated 2-alkylquinolones with proinflammatory host response. Communications Chemistry, 6(1), [138]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00937-y

Ückert, A. K., Rütschlin, S., Gutbier, S., Wörz, N. C., Miah, M. R., Martins, A. C., Hauer, I., Holzer, A. K., Meyburg, B., Mix, A. K., Hauck, C., Aschner, M., Böttcher, T., & Leist, M. (2023). Identification of the bacterial metabolite aerugine as potential trigger of human dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Environment International, 180, [108229]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108229

Szamosvari, D., Savchenko, V., Badouin, N., & Böttcher, T. (2023). Beyond iron: metal-binding activity of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal-motif. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 21(25), 5158-5163. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ob00710c

Schmid, P., Peñalver, L., & Böttcher, T. (2022). A ligand selection strategy to customize small molecule probes for activity-based protein profiling (LS-ABPP). In E. E. Carlson (Ed.), Chemical Microbiology Part A (pp. 23-58). Elsevier. Methods in Enzymology Vol. 664 https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2022.01.008