April 2026
We are pleased to welcome Mara-Sophie Montag as a new PhD student in the group. Her research will focus on elucidating mechanisms of metabolic interaction networks and gene functions in the spatially interacting microbiome
March 2026
Check out our new pre-print titled “Gut microbiota within-host evolution enforces colonization resistance against enteric infection”
March 2026
Sweet battles in the gut: How the microbiome protects us from pathogens" - TUM@Freising lecture with Prof. Bärbel Stecher-Letsch
February 2026
Huge congratulations to Ana and Rodrigo on their success in winning two prestigious MSCA postdoctoral fellowships!
January 2026
We are pleased to welcome Dilan Nisa Yilmaz Aydog as a new PhD student in the group. Her research will focus on developing synthetic biology–based tools to study colonization resistance in the human gut microbiome.
November 2025
Prof. Bärbel Stecher was recognized as one of the 'Highly Cited Researchers 2025' in the report released by Clarivate, marking her inclusion for three consecutive years
October 2025
Check out our new pre-print titled “Context-Dependent Metabolic Adaptation in Microbial Communities: From Monocultures to Complex Ecological Interactions”
August 2025
Check out our new publication in microLife, titled “In vitro and in vivo selection and cost of bacteriophage resistance on natural Escherichia coli”
Bacteriophages offer a promising alternative to antibiotics. However, bacteria can develop resistance to phages, potentially limiting treatment success. This study examines how such resistance emerges and what it costs bacteria, using a clinically important E. coli strain and a tailored phage cocktail. Under nutrient-rich lab environment, phage resistance had relatively low cost. But in the gut of mice, resistant bacteria paid a high price due to changes in their cell surface. These findings highlight the importance of testing phage therapies in realistic conditions, as results can vary significantly depending on the environment.
November 2024
Highly Cited Researchers 2024
Prof. Bärbel Stecher was awarded as one of the “Highly Cited Researchers 2024” in the report released by Clarivate’s list for 2024.
June 2024
