Research Topics
Hydrothermal vents are ideal model biotopes for microbial studies because these habitats combine various environmental conditions, i.e. moderate to extreme features.
Life in deep-sea hydrothermal provinces is based on local primary production. Indigenous biomass synthesis is fueled by biological oxidation of reduced inorganic compounds, such as hydrogen (H2), reduced sulfur (e.g. sulfide) or metal compounds. These substrates are provided by hot, reduced hydrothermal fluids, which ascend from inner earth. As the reduced emissions rise they are admixed with ambient, cold, oxygenated seawater. The contact of these reduced, hot hydrothermal fluids with oxygenated, cold seawater results in the development of thermal and chemical gradients. Hence, hydrothermally influenced biotopes are hallmarked by highly diverging thermal and chemical features, ranging from extremely hot (~400°C) to cold (ambient seawater is around 4°C) and fully reduced to fully oxic conditions. Conclusively, enzymatic inventories of indigenous microbes can be expected to be highly adapted to the local extreme conditions.
Within the scope of our research on the microbial communities and associated processes in these extreme environments we focus on two major topics: One addresses ecological questions surrounding bio-geo-coupling, the other deals with the applicability of novel enzymes from actively venting habitats for industrial application.
Bio-Geo-Coupling.
One of our key goals is to better understand how abiotic dynamics but also how biotic interactions affect microbial diversity, activity, and metabolic strategies. Currently we are focusing on how hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) availability influences the hydrogen-oxidizing diversity, the microbial hydrogen turnover rates and the related autotrophy (CO2 fixation).
Industrial Application.
Engaging in ecological questions entails seeking novel enzymes with particular functions. Our emphasize lies on [NiFe] hydrogenases (they catalyze H2 ↔ 2H+ + 2e–) and carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODH) (they catalyze CO + H2O + A ↔ CO2 + AH2). If immobilized on surfaces hydrogenases can be useful for (i) production of hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier (fuel storage in electrochemical cells) and (ii) oxidation of H2 as an energy source (fuel cell).
The CODHs are interesting because they can firstly reduce CO2 concentrations in flue and other waste gasesand as part of the CO2 reduction reaction can produce carbon monoxide (CO). 
CO has a significant fuel value and is also used as feedstock for different synthetic reactions. .
Current Projects include:
1. Diversity and functionality of microbial communities from deep-sea hydrothermal habitats
2. Recovery and characterization of CO2 reducing enzymes from deep-sea hydrothermal
habitats
3. Recovery of novel hydrogenases
4. Inorganic and enzyme-coupled systems for transfer of electrons