Research

Microbial secondary metabolites have been exploited by mankind for decades, especially as medical drugs. They are complex molecules often produced by several enzymes encoded by biosynthetic genes clusters (BGCs). Why microorganisms acquire and maintain genes encoding for production of such complex molecules remains a central question for/in our research.

We believe that secondary metabolites are essential in shaping microbial growth, metabolism and population dynamics at community level and that they impact ecology and evolution on a grand scale. Also, the production of secondary metabolites itself is shaped by the microbial community. This necessitates the study of natural environments and controlled model systems to elucidate function, diversity, and evolution of these molecules. 
April 1st, 2024, CeMiSt 1.0 continued into CeMiSt 2.0 that has a special emphasis on the fate of secondary metabolites in microbiomes, and how the secondary metabolome is not just a function of production but equally a network of biotransformation events within the community. 

The key questions within each research area (RA) of CeMiSt 2.0 are (see figure):

 
RA1: Synthesis and production dynamics
• RQ1: What is the complete BGC potential for microbial secondary metabolism and how much of it is realized in a natural environment? 
• RQ2: To what extent is secondary metabolite production influenced by temporal dynamics?  
RA2: Molecular mechanisms and regulation
• RQ3: What are the molecular processes involved in microbial responses to secondary metabolites?  
• RQ4: Do specific compound classes hold similar roles across the microbial space and time? 
RA3: Biotransformation and interaction between metabolites
• RQ5: How do secondary metabolites from microbes and hosts influence the secondary metabolome of a microbiome? 
• RQ6: What is the fate of microbial secondary metabolites in a natural environment?