Race for iron: impact of siderophore- and heme-mediated networking on spatial interactions in defined microbial communities (B01)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458090666

Competition for the key nutrient iron significantly shapes microbial networking. The secretion of Fe3+-complexing siderophores, the uptake of heme as alternative iron source and the production of iron storage proteins represent important homeostatic strategies in bacteria. In this project, we will analyse competitive and cooperative strategies for the acquisition of iron and heme in synthetic microbial communities involving prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial model organisms. Tailored microfluidic cultivation devices mimicking structured environments and the application of optogenetic switches and in vivo biosensors will enable us to determine the spatial and temporal dynamics of interspecies networking in the microbial race for iron.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1535: Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Project Heads: Dr. Thomas Drepper; Professorin Dr. Julia Frunzke; Professor Dr. Dietrich Kohlheyer