Sebastian Fraune

Kiel University (CAU)
Zoological Institute

Research area

• My research is focusing on the understanding of host-microbe interactions. In many animals epithelial tissues are colonized by complex communities of microbes. The diversity of microbes colonizing a host is proposed to be a result of coevolution between the eukaryotic host and the colonizing microbial community, influenced by both environment and host. These microbes influence the fitness of their hosts, ultimately forming a metaorganism consisting of a multicellular host and a community of associated microorganisms. The basis of my approach is the hypothesis that molecular host-microbe communications select for a core microbiota in a given host species which contributes to host fitness and adaptation. Since cnidaria belong to the early-branching metazoan and have preserved much of the genetic complexity of the common metazoan ancestor they promise to be highly informative for the analysis of epithelial host-microbe interactions. Using the two cnidarian model systems Hydra and Nematostella, I aim to understand the evolution and function of metaorganisms.

Projects

The role of quorum sensing (QS) / quorum quenching (QQ) in the metaorganism Hydra