The microbiology department of the DSMZ participates in bridging the gap between taxonomic research and genomics (1) by contributing to ongoing efforts to obtain the genome sequences for all type strains (see the GEBA project: Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea) and (2) by developing tools to make use of genomic characters for phylogeny and taxonomy. This phylogenomic work is done by the bioinformatics unit, which was formally established in 2009 and is expected to grow in the close future. We are interested in inferring phylogenies from genome-scale data, using a variety of approaches. Our efforts to establish a genome-based taxonomy also include the development of a software platform for automatic comparative genomics analysis of microbial genomes and visualization of the results. Routine tasks of our group include genome assembly and the inference of single-locus phylogenies, for instance 16S rRNA trees for the GEBA project. Our interests in the past included CRISPRs, phylogenies of novel actinomycete strains and de-novo prediction/discovery of transcription factor binding motifs in DNA sequences.
We also participate in the Roseobacter project. Our tasks include sequencing of novel strains from the Roseobacter clade, genome assembly, genome annotation, phenotypic characterization using the Biolog Phenotype Microarray system, and phylogenomic analysis.
| |  |
Dr. Markus Göker
tel: 272
mail: mgo08
|
