AG Kreikemeyer
Bacteriology
Current research projects on group A streptococci in the institute are
molecular characterization of S. pyogenes surface-associated adhesins, secreted enzymes and toxins
regulation of virulence gene expression and phase switching
system biology approach to elucidate the S. pyogenes whole cell metabolism and its association to virulence
bacteria-host interactions during adherence, internalization, and intracellular persistence as well as during evasion from the host cell
characterization of the molecular biology of S. pyogenes monospecies biofilms
interactions between S. pyogenes and other bacterial species of the human oral cavity and skin in the course of mixed species biofilm formation
effects of life cell / killed S. pyogenes preparations as adjuvants in experimental tumor therapy
Biofilms
Current research projects on biofilms in the institute are
set-up and optimization of culture conditions for mixed species biofilms with periodontal pathogens
current optimization of culture techniques for investigating pathogens forming biofilms on implant materials
in situ hybridization, metabolic markers and antibody techniques for the visualization of biofilm bacteria
microscopic techniques to study the three dimensional structures of biofilms
gene expression measurements and proteomics of biofilm-organized bacteria
prevention / change of biofilm growth by surface modifications and treatments with antiseptics or probiotics