Prof. Dr. Mirko Basen

Principle Investigator

Institute of Biological Sciences

Department of Microbiology

E-Mail: mirko.basen@uni-rostock.de

Sonja Kurrer

Postdoc

Institute of Biological Sciences

Department of Microbiology

E-Mail:sonja.kurrer@uni-rostock.de

Karin Krangemann

PhD student

Institute of Biological Sciences

Department of Microbiology

E-Mail: karin.krangemann@uni-rostock.de 

Prof. Dr. Basen is an expert in the isolation and physiological characterization of anaerobic microorganisms and in exploring their metabolic potential, genetics, and biochemistry. A key focus of Prof. Dr. Basen’ s research group is the study of polysaccharide-degrading bacteria and their role in converting polysaccharides into biofuels and chemicals.

 

Within the Alg4Nut project, Prof. Dr. Basen and his team are leading Work Package 6, which focuses on the microbial and enzymatic basis of algal polysaccharide degradation. The objectives of this team are:

  • Characterization of novel algal polysaccharide-degrading microorganisms from the rumen
  • Discovering new enzymes and pathways involved in algal polysaccharide degradation and conversion

  • Optimization of newly isolated strains or selected model organisms, to convert algal biomass into short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen, or bioactive compounds.