Bacterial Signal Transduction

What we try to achieve
In terms of understanding bacterial cells, we are trying to explain how their signaling works, especially focusing on the model organism Bacillus subtilis and on post-translational modifications of proteins. Our attempts to engineer bacteria currently focus on two axes: i) development of bacterial cell factories for carbon capture involving biomineralization, and ii) development of bacterial cell factories capable of producing food proteins and lipids. Besides delivering scientific results, our aim is to train and enable young scientists to be future leaders.

Why our research is important and how it can be used
Basic science, on model organisms such as B. subtilis, is expected to push the envelope of current knowledge and contribute to our understanding of general principles of biology. Contributing to basic science is our most important mission. Our research on engineering bacteria for biomineralization can hopefully help with carbon capture from various industries and energy production processes. Our work on production on food proteins in bacteria is aimed at facilitating large scale precision fermentation of food ingredients and can help de-couple food production from extensive land use of classical agriculture.

How we achieve our aims – methods, tools, technologies
We are mostly achieving our aims by fostering creative thinking and intellectual freedom and stimulating curiosity. Scientific methods/tools/approaches that we use vary considerably, and include classical genetics, microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry methods, “omics” approaches (proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics), nanotechnology and experimental evolution approaches.

The Bacterial Signal Transduction group is headed by Professor Ivan Mijakovic and is located at Lyngby Campus, building 220, floor 4. PI office 421F.