EXC 2051:  Balance of the Microverse

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine ; Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry ; Materials Science ; Medicine ; Microbiology, Virology and Immunology ; Molecular Chemistry ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Physical Chemistry ; Polymer Research
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390713860

The balance of microbial consortia with other organismic partners and the environment is critical for the functioning of all ecosystems, climate stability, sustainable agriculture, and the well-being of plants, animals and humans. We define a Microverse as functionally interacting or spatially coexisting microbial consortia. Anthropogenic impact or infectious microorganisms can dramatically dysbalance a Microverse resulting in the deterioration of ecosystems, weather extremes, severe crop losses or disease. Targeted interventions aim to restore the original state or establish alternative states of balance. Typically, we attempt to remedy non-functional systems by treating the symptoms, because the molecular mechanisms leading to a microbial balance are largely unknown. The Microverse Cluster will address this shortcoming by answering the following research questions: What defines the dynamics of microbial balance? Which factors disturb the equilibrium, and how is re-balancing attained? How can we shape and control microbial consortia to create beneficial impact?We will combine our expertise in microbiology, chemical biology, infection biology, optics/photonics, materials science and bioinformatics/systems biology at the university and non-university institutes. The Microverse Cluster will activate the synergistic potential of four Collaborative Research Centers, an Excellence Graduate School and additional high-ranking coordinated research programs. This is further complemented by our industry partners.The Microverse Cluster is organized into three Research Areas: A Microverse of the EnvironmentB Microverse of the HostC Data Synopsis and Microverse Imaging Center.These Research Areas address the orchestration of microbial balance on multiple levels by chemical signals, host factors, spatial demand, metabolic fluxes and genetic exchange. The cross-system comparisons and mining of data from diverse settings such as infection of human and plant hosts, confined and unconfined aqueous environments as well as synthetic microbial communities will lead to the identification of general principles.A new building providing space for an existing and new professorships and junior research groups will form a center of gravity, facilitating scientific exchange and integrating international guests. It will also be home to a Microverse Imaging Center with state-of-the-art biophotonics technologies and dedicated facilities for prototype development and field applications. We will instate a flexible funding scheme to promote cooperative research, individual fellowships and structured research training programs. Internationalization and diversity management will promote strategic networking as well as contributing to the global visibility of this unique Microverse Cluster. By learning from nature, the Microverse Cluster will offer innovative solutions for fighting disease and environmental dysbalance.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Participating Institution: Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF); GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH; Helmholtz-Institut Jena; Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR); Institut für Datenwissenschaften; Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e. V.; Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI); Leibniz-Institut für Photonische Technologien e.V. (IPHT); Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie (MPI-BGC); Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Ökologie; Beutenberg Campus; Max-Planck-Institut für Geoanthropologie; Universitätsklinikum Jena
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Ian Thomas Baldwin; Professor Dr. Michael Bauer; Professor Dr. Christian Eggeling; Professor Dr. Rainer Heintzmann; Professor Dr. Christian Hertweck; Professor Dr. Bernhard Hube; Professorin Dr. Erika Kothe; Professor Dr. Johannes Krause; Professorin Dr. Birgitta König-Ries; Professor Dr. Falko Langenhorst; Professorin Dr. Bettina Löffler; Professorin Dr. Manja Marz; Professorin Dr. Maria Mittag; Professor Dr. Georg Pohnert; Professor Dr. Jürgen Popp; Professor Dr. Felix H. Schacher; Professor Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert; Professor Dr. Christian Spielmann; Professor Dr. Christoph Steinbeck; Professorin Dr. Susan Trumbore; Professor Dr. Andreas Tünnermann; Professorin Dr. Christina Warinner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Lothar Wondraczek
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Axel Brakhage, from 1/2019 until 11/2022; Professorin Dr. Kirsten Küsel, since 12/2022