Home | Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology

Dr. Florian Lindner receives the MarBiNa Prize

The junior scientist from the research group of Andreas Diepold is awarded for his work on controlling a bacterial injection apparatus

Dr. Christoph Diehl receives Dissertation Prize for Synthetic Biology

The Dissertation Prize for Synthetic Biology was presented during the International Synthetic Biology Workshop on 20 March 2023 in Darmstadt. In our interview, Chris Diehl explains the scope of his research.

A thrifty trick for plastic upcycling

Scientists have now developed a more efficient, carbon dioxide-conserving route to upcycle ethylene glycol, a constituent of the plastic PET.

“Microcosm Earth Center” research groups are complete

Dr. Martina Preiner has joined the MPI-TM as a new Max Planck Research Group Leader. Her group "Geochemical Protoenzymes" at the "Microcosm Earth Center" explores transitions from geo- to biochemistry: How can life emerge from the non-living?

Towards a “biochemical blueprint”

Highly efficient and without greenhouse gas emissions, special enzymes called hydrogenases convert hydrogen. A team led by Dr. Seigo Shima focuses on producing such an active [Fe]-hydrogenase in a test tube, following nature's example. The team has now identified two missing links in the biosynthetic chain - both belong to a class of enzymes that is truly something special.

Welcome to the
Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology

The aim of our research is to understand the diversity and function of microorganisms. They are more numerous and diverse than all other living organisms – there is no place on earth they do not colonize. There are mainly three main reasons for their success: their immense metabolic capacities, a great ability to adapt to environmental changes, and a wide range of interactions with other organisms. Whether by their indispensable role in the global cycles of matter, the conversion of atmospheric greenhouse gases or their numerous interactions with humans, animals and plants - microorganisms decisively shape life on earth.

Like all of the over 80 Max Planck Institutes, we conduct basic research, true to Max Planck`s saying: "Insight must precede application." A fundamental understanding of processes and interrelationships is prerequisite for any medical or technological innovation. We use state-of-the-art technologies in combination with computer modeling and analysis as well as synthetic biology methods.