CeMESS

Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science

CeMESS/Maximilian Prag

Expanding Knowledge

The Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science | CeMESS at the University of Vienna brings together rapidly advancing research fields of high societal relevance. Our Centre unites four Research Divisions spanning microbiology, bioinformatics, ecology, and environmental geoscience.

This multidisciplinary strength enables us to investigate, in a comprehensive way, the biotic and abiotic processes that shape our bodies, ecosystems, and the entire planet. Our research delivers key insights to help address some of today’s most pressing global challenges, from human to planetary health.

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CeMESS News

How Gut Bacteria and Acute Stress Are Linked

16.04.2026 DOME

Possible avenue for new strategies related to acute stress responses and stress-related conditions.

New paper: Degradation of a green-fodder-derived sulfosugar by cow rumen bacteria

04.04.2026 DOME

Rumen microbiota are essential for cattle husbandry, providing energy and protein through fermentation. However, this symbiotic process also produces…

Matthias Horn elected Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM)

24.03.2026 DOME

DOME | CeMESS professor Matthias Horn has been elected a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology. Election to the EAM Fellowship recognises…

22nd ChlamydienWorkshop at the University of Vienna

06.03.2026 DOME

Around 70 researchers from different institutions in ten countries gathered in Vienna for the 22nd ChlamydienWorkshop. The meeting was organized by…

Ancient symbiosis between plants and fungi: Important insights for sustainable agriculture

27.02.2026 TER

Almost all plants live in close symbiosis with so-called mycorrhizal fungi – an important symbiosis for absorbing essential nutrients. In their new…

CeMESS welcomes new Scientific Advisory Board

26.02.2026 CeMESS

The new CeMESS Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) paid its inaugural visit to the Centre. An All Hands Meeting introduced CeMESS, and over two days…

CeMESS in the Media

Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health

The FWF-funded Cluster of Excellence (CoE) brings together the expertise of CeMESS researchers from all four CeMESS divisions in a joint, ambitious research project.

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CeMESS Events

Using Structure-Function Relationships to Assess the Evolving Biodegradation Potential of Contaminant Degrading Enzymes: A Case Study on Rieske Non-Heme Iron Oxygenases

23.10.2025 EDGE Lecture Series

Thomas Hofstetter

Composition or Shape: Disentangling Complex Toxicity Pathways in the Gut

16.10.2025 EDGE Lecture Series

Giorgia Del Favero

Drug-microbiome interactions and their consequences on the host

09.10.2025 CeMESS Lecture Series

Lisa Maier

Recent Publications

Hodzic A, Cizek V, Kunert M. Gut immune and redox transcriptional responses to Borrelia infection in questing Ixodes ricinus. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 2026 Jul;17(4):1-6. 102668. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102668

Allagui W, Brahim N, Allani M, Zougari B, Ibrahim H, Bol R et al. Oasis management and topography interactively shape soil inorganic carbon dynamics in hyper-arid soils. Geoderma. 2026 Jul;471:1-12. 117865. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117865

Mohr MG, Tanabe TS, Grosser M, Dahl C. Biochemistry and transcriptional regulation of bacterial sulfur oxidation. In Advances in Microbial Physiology. Academic Press. 2026. (Advances in Microbial Physiology, Vol. 88). Epub 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2026.06.003

Dolschak K, Winter Artusio E, Mayer M, Grabner M, Tatzber M, Ahmed IU et al. Climate drivers of historic tree growth in the Vienna Woods and prediction of future performance of eight selected tree species. Forest Ecology and Management. 2026 Jun 15;610:123674. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123674

Waschk P, Spiegel P, Gessler A, Saurer M, Bock BM, Hinterdobler W et al. Evidence for resource transfer via common endophyte networks. Scientific Reports. 2026 Jun 8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-56653-9

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