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“Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI) researchers from different disciplines elucidate the mechanisms of interaction between beneficial and harmful bacteria and the host. – University of Tübingen, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Kirsten Küsel and Kyle Mason-Jones, speaker at the CMFI Microbiology Colooquium in Tübingen February 5, 2026. © CMFI / University of Tübingen
CMFI colloquium guest Petra Dersch from the University of Münster with her Tübingen colleagues Andreas Peschel (spokesperson for the CMFI Cluster of Excellence, left) and Samuel Wagner (former CMFI board member, Vice-President for Sustainable Development at University of Tübingen, right). Photo: Jonas Ritz / CMFI.
Ana Rita Brochado © Friedhelm Albrecht / Unversity of Tübingen
Scientist Ana Rita Brochado and her lab team member Laura Sniegula look at data from the pipetting robot. With this laboratory tool the team investigated the effect of 94 different substances – including antibiotics, prescription drugs, and food ingredients – on the bacterium E. coli, a potential pathogen. © Leon Kokkoliadis/CMFI, University of Tübingen
Scanning electron microscopy image of a gut bacterial community (1:1.000.000). These interacting microorganisms form an ecosystem that is vital to human health. Medications can severely disrupt this fragile balance – they eliminate beneficial bacteria and thereby promote the growth of harmful species. Image produced by the Maier Lab (Lisa Maier, Anne Grießhammer, Leonardo Boldt) together with the Tübingen Structural Microscopy Core Facility (Michaela Wilsch-Bräuninger, Stefan Fischer); Colouring: Elke Neudert.
Cut through a protein: Look inside the HilD Regulator and the binding site for the pathoblocker. The discovered substance C26 (blue) bound to the HilD regulator and acting as pathoblocker. In addition, the HilD AlphaFold predicted structure is depicted (black). Model by Thales Kronenberger. 3D visualization created by Leon Kokkoliadis/CMFI, University of Tübingen. © Leon Kokkoliadis, CC-BY-ND
Fig 9 from original publication: Bacterial culturability in the stationary phase is dependent on (p)ppGpp-driven GTP depletion. Uncontrolled, high levels of GTP (low ATP) in the (p)ppGpp0 mutant resulted in membrane disorder and decreased PMF. The lower PMF could at least in part be linked to transcriptional downregulation of nucleotide-sensitive genes of the respiratory chain. Maintenance of respiratory chain activity under (p)ppGpp positive/low GTP conditions likely accounts for the observed tolerance of stationary phase cells to bactericidal antibiotics.
PhARIS (Phage Aureus RBP Identification System): A new tool for identifying specific phage receptor-binding proteins and predicting the ability to infect the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Exemplary presentation. Image: Dr. Johannes Richers and Dr. Christoph Kuehne (Jo Richers Studio), commissioned by University of Tübingen/CMFI
Epithelial cells infected with Listeria monocytogenes are being squeezed and pushed out of the epithelial layer due to the forceful action of surrounding healthy cells. The signal ERK kinase spreading fast in form of waves across cells, plays a crucial role for coordinating the movement of the healthy cells towards the infection site. Exemplary visualization.© Leon Kokkoliadis/CMFI CC-BY NC
The active substance epifadin in its isolated pure form. The unstable active substance has to be stored under shielding gas. © Jonas Ritz, CMFI / University of Tübingen
Dr Bernhard Krismer and Professor Stephanie Grond in the microbiology laboratory of the University of Tübingen’s Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT). With their teams they worked on the discovery of the active substance epifadin. © Jörg Jäger / University of Tübingen
University of Tübingen researchers reverse the evolution of a class of antibiotics to gain in-sights for the development of new drugs. Illustration Anna Voigtländer. © University of Tübingen / CMFI
A microbial community on the human body. Groups of staphylococci in secretion and other skin microbes. Exemplary representation. © Michael Pelzer / University of Tübingen.