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Anke Becker

In our lab, we study the genetics and physiology of bacteria in their interactions with the environment. We elucidate the molecular-mechanistic repertoire of how bacteria sense, interpret, respond and adapt to environmental changes, which is pivotal to understand how microbes influence their environment. This knowledge sets the stage to test and apply the discovered principles with synthetic biology, for which we develop advanced genetic tools and new-to-nature genetic circuits, especially for “non-model” organisms. In M4C, we are particularly interested in understanding the native genetic networks of environmental relevant microbes and engineering novel genetic and cellular architectures in model- and non-model organisms for new microbiological CO2-conversions. 

Research Focus:

Microbes as Responders; Microbes providing Solutions

Key Publication(s):

*Bettenworth V, van Vliet S, Turkowyd B, Bamberger A, Wendt H, McIntosh M, Steinchen W, Endesfelder U, *Becker A. Frequency modulation of a bacterial quorum sensing response. Nature Communications 2022 13:2772. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30307-6

Stukenberg D, Hoff J, Faber A, *Becker A. NT-CRISPR, combining natural transformation and CRISPR-Cas9 counterselection for markerless and scarless genome editing in Vibrio natriegens. Communications Biology 2022 5:265. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03150-0.

Krol E, Stuckenschneider L, Kästle J, Graumann PL, *Becker A. Stable inheritance of Sinorhizobium meliloti cell growth polarity requires an FtsN-like protein and an amidase. Nature Communications 2021 12: 545. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20739-3.

For more information, please visit:

www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb17/disciplines/mircobiology/becker-lab