Katharina Runzheimer
External PhD Student
Contact
E-Mail: Katharina.runzheimer@dlr.de
Room: German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Tel.: +49 2203 601 1267
Katharina Runzheimer
Project Outline
Cultivation of previously uncultivated microorganisms from aquatic habitats with regard to biotechnological application potentials
The objective of my project is the selective enrichment and cultivation of extremophiles from hostile aquatic environments. This project is a sub-project of the interdisciplinary BMBF project Multikulti, which aims to cultivate previously uncultured microorganisms from diverse aquatic environments using novel techniques and a newly designed bioreactor.
Extremophilic organisms often possess resistance genes, such as those responsible for pigmentation, which provide protection against radiation, cold, or other stress factors. Microbial pigments, therefore, hold great potential for biotechnological applications, including radiation protection for space missions, food additives, and medical products (e.g., vitamin precursors).
The aim of this doctoral thesis is to isolate previously uncultivated, biotechnologically relevant microorganisms from aquatic extreme environments, with a particular focus on saline ecosystems. Various cultivation approaches will be employed to obtain pure cultures.
Link to project: