Research

Michael Wagner is distinguished for many important contributions to microbial ecology, which he compiled at the Technischen Universität München, the Northwestern University and at the University of Vienna. Since 2003 he is heading the Department of Microbial Ecology at the University of Vienna. His research foci are the cultivation-independent identification and genomic/functional characterization of microbes with importance for the environment or medicine.

Using newly developed singe-cell tools for the functional characterization of microbes in their natural environment, he has discovered previously unknown members of the Bacteria and Archaea catalyzing key steps in global element cycles. For example, he and his team could show that members of the genus Nitrospira are of major importance for nitrification in many ecosystems. Furthermore he demonstrated that novel Chlamydia-like organisms thrive within amoebae. These Chlamydia-like intracellular bacteria diverged from their relatives, which are formidable pathogens of animals and humans, about 700 million years ago. Applying genomic and functional genomic approaches he and his team revealed new insights into the evolutionary history and life strategies of Chlamydiae.