Research Projects

VIME in space - MOMEDOS

10.12.2016

How do microbes in cosmic dust adapt to outer space conditions?

VIME collaborates with Dr. Tetyana Milojevic from the Department of Biophysical Chemistry to investigate the molecular mechanisms of microbial adaptation to outer space conditions such as cold and radiation. The project is funded by the FFG and will investigate samples from the TANPOPO mission.

Read more about this project:

dlr.de/me/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1752/2384_read-49013/

medienportal.univie.ac.at/uniview/forschung/detailansicht/artikel/microbes-in-outer-space/

Stardust Dust Collector with aerogel (Source: wikimedia.org)

VIME works on Alzheimer diagnostics

10.12.2016

Early and accurate Alzheimer diagnostics allow patients to delay the deseases' effects and preserve daily functioning for some time.

VIME collaborates with Maria Zellner, an expert on Alzheimer Disease and Jürgen König on early and rapid Alzheimer diagnostics. Dr. Maria Zellner coordinates LOAD, a Marie Curie Action for Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) on the development of a late-onset- Alzheimer’s disease profile for accurate diagnosis and identification of potential therapeutic approaches.

Neurofibrillary tangles in the Hippocampus of an Alzheimer patient.

Source: Patho - wikimedia.org

VIME meets AMICI

10.12.2016

The human gut system hosts a vast amount of different microorganisms who influence metabolism and health. This is also reflected in metabolomic profiles.

The Vienna Metabolomics Center is part of the expert consortium of the recently established Austrian Microbiome Initiative (AMICI) headed by Christoph Steininger. In the close collaboration of VIME and AMICI potential fields of collaboration will be explored.

Source: amici.csb.univie.ac.at

VIME goes ACTIVE AGING

10.12.2016

Researching the effects of ageing and lifestyle activities at cellular and molecular levels

In a close collaboration with the coordinator of the research platform Active Aging Karl-Heinz Wagner the Vienna Metabolomics Center will contribute metabolomic profiles of large cohorts of elderly participants.

Source: activeageing.univie.ac.at

VIME goes proteomics: Exo-proteomics of marine samples

10.12.2016

Dissolved organic material in ocean water - what ist it composed of, and what role do microorganisms play in structuring this dissolved matter?

Roberta Hansman received a four-year Else Richter grant from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) to analyze dissolved proteins found in seawater. Proteins comprise about 50% of all living organisms, including the millions of microbes present in every liter of seawater, and thus become a major component of the dissolved organic material found in the ocean. This work will identify and quantify proteins dissolved in seawater in combination with analysis of the exo-metabolome in order to gain insight into what organic material in the ocean is composed of and what role microorganisms play in structuring dissolved organic matter composition. The project will be conducted within the Vienna Metabolomics Center. Roberta Hansman is member of the Microbial Oceanography lab headed by Gerhard Herndl.

Source: www.microbial-oceanography.eu

Metabolic adaption of pollen grains and tubes to drought

06.06.2017

ViMe collaborates with Gerhard Obermeyer to answer the question how pollen tubes survive drought stress during their journey through the pistil.

A successful fertilisation in plants guarantees the production and high crop yield for human food, e.g. seeds and fruits but also bread, beer and beef! Drought periods inhibit this process and thus dramatically reduce crop yields.
In this project, molecular mechanisms are investigated that enable the pollen to adapt to drought stress conditions adjusting its metabolism to continue its growth to the ovule. The project is financed by the FWF (P29626)

Project summary: http://pf.fwf.ac.at/project_pdfs/pdf_abstracts/p29626e.pdf
Website of Gerhard Obermeyer (Molecular Plant Biophysics, and Biochemistry Lab, Univ. Salzburg) : www.uni-salzburg.at/mpbb

Papillar cells on the Arabidopsis stigma provide pollen grains (arrow) with water for their growth to the ovule