04.09.2025 Marburg Researcher Receives Prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung (BIS) Grant

How harmful gut bacteria make energy without oxygen – exploring the inner workings of Clostridioides difficile

Biochemist Dr. Jan Schuller receives the prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung grant

Dr. Jan Michael Schuller, head of the Emmy Noether Group "CryoEM of Molecular Machines" at the Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and the Department of Chemistry at Philipps-University Marburg, has secured a highly competitive research grant from the Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung (BIS). Awarded within the framework of the BIS Exploration Grants Program for independent junior research group leaders, the two-year project entitled "Structural and functional insights into the Stickland fermentation of Clostridioides difficile" will receive funding for 180,000 euros.

Exploring how dangerous gut bacteria generate energy

The funded research explores key enzymatic steps of the Stickland fermentation pathway—an ancient metabolic route essential for the energy metabolism, survival, and virulence of C. difficile, a dangerous anaerobic gut pathogen. By combining cryo-electron microscopy with advanced biochemical techniques, Dr. Schuller’s team aims to resolve the structural architecture and functionality of protein complexes that link amino acid degradation with energy generation. Their work relies on preparing diverse protein samples under strictly anaerobic conditions, a method his lab has perfected to study oxygen-sensitive enzymes.

“Dr. Schuller’s research is a powerful reminder of how curiosity-driven basic science can uncover the fundamental mechanisms of life,” says Dr. Gert Bange, Vice President for Research at Philipps-University Marburg. “These deep insights lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s breakthroughs in medicine and science.”

Award-winning research on the origins of life

Dr. Schuller is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in the structural biology of anaerobic microorganisms. In 2022, he was awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant, followed by the VAAM Research Prize in 2023. His group has made significant contributions to our understanding of primordial energy-conversion pathways, such as the microbial utilization of CO₂ and hydrogen on early Earth. By leveraging this expertise, Schuller now directs his focus toward medically relevant pathogens, with the broader aim of uncovering potential novel drug targets. 

“Clostridioides difficile poses a serious threat, especially due to the rising number of hospital-acquired infections,” says Dr. Jan Schuller. “By combining our expertise in structural biology, genetics, anaerobic microbiology, and biochemistry, we hope to identify entirely new and promising targets for future therapies.”

More Information:

Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim-stiftung.de/