Dr Maik Wolfram-Schauerte receives the Friedrich Hirzebruch Doctoral Prize 2025 of the Studienstiftung ( German Academic Scholarship Foundation)

Research focus: How a bacteriophage defeats its bacterial host

February 04, 2025

Dr Maik Wolfram-Schauerte has been awarded the prestigious Friedrich Hirzebruch Doctoral Prize 2025 for his outstanding research in biochemistry. His work provides new insights into phage-host interactions, opening up new avenues in both synthetic biology and the use of phages to overcome antibiotic resistance.

With his thesis 'From RNA and its NAD-cap: Exploring T4 phage infection from an epitranscriptomic perspective', Dr Maik Wolfram-Schauerte convinced not only the scientific community but also the selection committee of the Deutsche Studienstiftung. He carried out his work at the University of Marburg and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in the Bacterial Epitranscriptomics research group led by Prof. Dr. Katharina Höfer. His multi-disciplinary approach has led to new insights into how bacteria are infected by phages (specialised viruses). This is important for exploring new approaches to the treatment of bacterial infections. Commenting on the award, Wolfram-Schauerte says: "The excellent support and research infrastructure, as well as the close cooperation between the University and the MPI Marburg in the field of microbiology, were important factors for my work.

The importance of phage-host interactions

Why are bacteriophages so fascinating? They have the ability to infect and kill bacteria. This makes them very interesting for research, especially for treatment of bacterial infections. Wolfram-Schauerte applied a range of modern methods, including bioinformatics, microbiology and molecular biology, as well as RNA and protein biochemistry, to better understand the interaction between phages and their hosts.

During his research, Wolfram-Schauerte also discovered RNAylation, a previously unknown biochemical reaction. He also identified the first specific modification of phage RNA and its importance during infection. These groundbreaking findings could open up new avenues in synthetic biology and provide valuable insights into phage-host interactions.

A promising field of research

Wolfram-Schauerte's results are not only of theoretical importance, but also of practical relevance. They show the immense potential of epitranscriptomic research for the development of new therapies. These new approaches could help overcome antibiotic resistance by using alternative therapies. Maik's work provides an important basis for future research in my group, which I will continue as part of my LOEWE professorship at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Marburg," says Katharina Höfer.

Academic career and funding

Dr Wolfram-Schauerte studied molecular biotechnology and biochemistry at the University of Heidelberg. He completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and the University of Marburg, supported by the German National Academic Foundation, the German Research Foundation's Priority Programme SPP2330 and the Joachim Herz Foundation. Since May 2020, he has been working as a postdoc at the University of Tübingen in the field of machine learning. He is developing methods to link single cell and transcriptome data, which could enable new approaches in drug discovery.
“With his groundbreaking findings and innovative research ideas, Dr Maik Wolfram-Schauerte is at the forefront of an emerging interdisciplinary field,” says the Studienstiftung. In the future, his work could contribute significantly to finding new solutions for global health challenges.

(Text: University of Marburg, Press office)

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