Prof. Dr. Barbara Stecher-Letsch
Academic Career and Research Areas
Prof. Stecher´s research focuses on the human gut microbial ecosystem and its protective function against bacterial infections. Using synthetic bacterial consortia, animal models, and molecular as well as systems biology approaches, her team investigates the mechanisms of microbe-microbe interactions within complex microbial communities in the host. The professorship makes a significant contribution to the scientific priorities of the two central institutes (ZIEL, ZIP).
Bärbel Stecher studied Biology at LMU Munich before pursuing a PhD in infection biology at ETH Zürich, Switzerland. Following postdoctoral research at ETH Zürich and McMaster University, Canada, she became a Professor at LMU Munich in 2011. In October 2024, she was appointed Full Professor and Chair of Intestinal Microbiome at the TUM School of Life Sciences.
Awards
- European Research Council (ERC), Consolidator Grant (2019)
- German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM), Main Award (2017)
- Yakult-Prize ‘Science for Health’ (2011)
- Robert Koch Society ‘Postdoctoral Prize’ (2009)
- Swiss Society of Microbiology (SSM) Encouragement Award (2008)
Key Publications (all publications)
Weiss AS, Niedermeier LS, von Strempel A, Burrichter AG, Ring D, Meng C, Kleigrewe K, Lincetto C, Hübner J, Stecher B. Nutritional and host environments determine community ecology and keystone species in a synthetic gut bacterial community. Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 8;14(1):4780.
AbstractMünch PC, Eberl C, Woelfel S, Ring D, Fritz A, Herp S, Lade I, Geffers R, Franzosa EA, Huttenhower C, McHardy AC, Stecher B. Pulsed antibiotic treatments of gnotobiotic mice manifest in complex bacterial community dynamics and resistance effects. Cell Host Microbe. 2023 Jun 14;31(6):1007-1020.e4.
AbstractEberl C, Weiss AS, Jochum LM, Durai Raj AC, Ring D, Hussain S, Herp S, Meng C, Kleigrewe K, Gigl M, Basic M, Stecher B. E. coli enhance colonization resistance against Salmonella Typhimurium by competing for galactitol, a context-dependent limiting carbon source. Cell Host Microbe. 2021 Sep 29:S1931-3128(21)00420-0.
AbstractHerp S, Brugiroux S, Garzetti D, Ring D, Jochum LM, Beutler M, Eberl C, Hussain S, Walter S, Gerlach RG, Ruscheweyh HJ, Huson D, Sellin ME, Slack E, Hanson B, Loy A, Baines JF, Rausch P, Basic M, Bleich A, Berry D, Stecher B. Mucispirillum schaedleri Antagonizes Salmonella Virulence to Protect Mice against Colitis. Cell Host Microbe. 2019 May 8;25(5):681-694.
AbstractBrugiroux S., Beutler M., Pfann C., Garzetti D., Ruscheweyh H.J., Ring D., Diehl M., Herp S., Lötscher Y., Hussain S., Bunk B., Pukall R., Huson D.H., Münch P.C., McHardy A.C., McCoy K.D., Macpherson A.J., Loy A., Clavel T., Berry D., Stecher B. Genome-guided design of a defined mouse microbiota that confers colonization resistance against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Nat Microbiol. 2016 Nov 21;2:16215. doi: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.215. PMID: 27869789.
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