Thomas Boettcher

Our latest research just accepted in RSC Chemical Biology:
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
In this study led by Konstantin Plöchl from our lab, we report a novel class of small-molecule inhibitors targeting bacteriophage infection. #phages #chemicalbiology
@univie.ac.at

The text reads: “Resistance to antibiotics is widespread and increasing, threatening treatment of common infections. 1 in 6 bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotics in 2023.”

New WHO report finds 1 in 6 bacterial infections were resistant to antibiotic treatments.

Data from over 100 countries warns that rising resistance to essential antibiotics poses a growing threat to global health.

Read more 👉bit.ly/438Ta1u

Honest answer: getting the funding to do it. The science behind it is beautiful and just works.

Survey on the clinical need for an ultra-narrow spectrum N. gonorrhoeae Antibiotic Welcome and thank you for participating in this survey! We are the researchers in Boettcher's group at University of Vienna, who are developing the new antibiotic specifically targeting N. gonorrhoeae...

For our antimicrobial drug development efforts at the University of Vienna we are looking for input from physicians/clinicians who are familiar with treatment, diagnostics, infection control, etc.
Your insights would be highly valuable!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Lactulose selectively stimulates members of the gut microbiota, as determined by multi-modal activity-based sorting There is much interest in the development of dietary supplements that selectively promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. The selectivity of many candidate prebiotics has, however, not been ...

Wonderful work in collaboration with the lab of @davidberry1.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Good to read an informed scientific opinion on this topic. I couldn't agree more. Safety considerations for additives regardless whether synthetic or natural should be only based on scientific data and not on ideology or personal beliefs.

Please only apply online via the weblink. Skills in organic chemistry, NMR, natural product chemistry, chemical biology and biochemistry are desired, expertise in microbiology is a plus but alone not sufficient. @chemjobber.bsky.social @cemess.bsky.social #PhD #ChemicalBiology

We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated PhD student in Chemical Biology for a position in our group within the AIDD docfunds program @univie.ac.at to investigate anti-infectives from antagonistic microbial interactions. Apply until 03.05.2025:
vds-phanuspo.univie.ac.at/application/...

A new cover feature from our lab, designed by first author Viktoriia Savchenko, went online in ACS Chemical Biology.
Here is the article link: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
@univie.ac.at @cemess.bsky.social

A quinolone N-oxide antibiotic selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae via its toxin–antitoxin system - Nature Microbiology Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived 2-nonyl-4-quinolone N-oxide exerts bactericidal effects on Neisseria gonorrhoea via zeta1–epsilon1 toxin–antitoxin activation in vitro and abrogates experimental infecti...

💊🦠OUT NOW - new research showing that 2-nonyl-4-quinolone N-oxide and its 3-methyl derivative kill Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro and significantly reduce bacterial numbers in vivo, in mouse infection models

#MicroSky

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A chemical radar allows bacteria to detect and kill predators Pseudomonas syringae can detect and kill microbial predators via a chemical radar (Cra), which also allows the bacterium to infect plants despite predation pressure.

#weekendreading🔬

A chemical radar allows bacteria to detect and kill predators

@cellpress.bsky.social #microsky

www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

A quinolone N-oxide antibiotic selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae via its toxin–antitoxin system - Nature Microbiology Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived 2-nonyl-4-quinolone N-oxide exerts bactericidal effects on Neisseria gonorrhoea via zeta1–epsilon1 toxin–antitoxin activation in vitro and abrogates experimental infecti...

and here is the link to our nature microbiology paper, which is open access:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New antibiotic for multidrug resistant superbug, that causes gonorrhoea This novel antibiotic activates an existing "suicide" mechanism in gonococci

Work of our lab @univie.ac.at in close collaboration with the Hauck Lab @uni-konstanz.de was published in @naturemicrobiol.bsky.social today. A compound highly selective in targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a novel mode of action. @cemess.bsky.social

medienportal.univie.ac.at/en/media/rec...

Neues Antibiotikum gegen Problemkeim, der Tripper (Gonorrhö) auslöst Neuartiges Antibiotikum aktiviert einen in den Gonokokken bereits vorhandenen Selbsttötungsmechanismus

Die Zunahme von antibiotikaresistenten Keimen ist ein wachsendes Problem. Dazu gehört etwa der Problemkeim Neisseria gonorrhoeae, der Tripper (Gonorrhö) auslöst. Forscher*innen der Universitäten Konstanz und Wien entdeckten nun eine neue Klasse von Antibiotika, die selektiv dagegen wirken. 💊

Research-team of #UniKonstanz + @univie.ac.at have identified a new class of antibiotics that selectively target Neisseria gonorrhoeae—the bacteria behind gonorrhea. Full story: https://t1p.de/7svjt @naturebicrobiol.bsky.social. Read scientific publication: https://t1p.de/wtlae

New @fwf-at.bsky.social CoE Microplanet Publication in ASC Chemical Biology from the lab of @thomasboettcher.bsky.social @cemess.bsky.social @univie.ac.at unveils Chitinivorax as a new quinolone-producing genus. Check out the publication ➡ pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

91 Days Later: BiomX’s Phage Fights Off Diabetic Bone Infection in Phase II CEO Jonathan Solomon explains the significance of BX211—a phage therapy for diabetic foot osteomyelitis—in developing a new precision medicine modality.

Precision medicine for #AMR is making real progress.

BiomX's BX211 phage therapy for diabetic foot osteomyelitis (S. aureus) just hit a major milestone in Phase II.

Significant ulcer reduction over 91 days. #PhageTherapy #Biotech
#InfectiousDisease

www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/preci...

Politics should never be allowed to have a say in how to interpret scientific evidence or medical needs. Just like you don't tell a surgeon where to put the scalpel.

Chitinivorax: The New Kid on the Block of Bacterial 2-Alkyl-4(1H)-quinolone Producers 2-Alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones play a key role in bacterial communication, regulating biofilm formation, and virulence. Their antimicrobial properties also support bacterial survival and interspecies competition in microbial communities. In addition to the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa various species of Burkholderia and Pseudoalteromonas are known to produce 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones. However, the evolutionary relationships of their biosynthetic gene clusters remain largely unexplored. To address this, we investigated the phylogeny of 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolone biosynthetic gene clusters, leading to the discovery of Chitinivorax as a fourth genus capable of producing 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones, expanding our knowledge of the diversity of bacteria involved in quinolone-biosynthesis.

Just out now: wonderful work from our lab by lead author Viktoriia Savchenko expanding our knowledge of the diversity of bacteria involved in quinolone biosynthesis, with a newcomer to the family of quinolone producers. #CoE7 @univie.ac.at @cemess.bsky.social #ChemBio

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

PhD position in microbial biochemistry #ChemSky, #ChemicalBiology, @chemjobber.bsky.social

Open positions Open positions

We are happy to be able to advertise a fully funded PhD position in our Lab funded by the FWF DocFunds Program "AIDD-Anti-Infective Drug Discovery"at the University of Vienna in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences:
vds-phanuspo.univie.ac.at/application/...

Miracles are where you chose to fund them...

Tune into this videocast with CoE Microplanet Director of Research @michiwagner4.bsky.social @cemess.bsky.social @univie.ac.at to learn about microbiomes and their connection to health, hygiene, and nutrition. @fwf-at.bsky.social
Watch it now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz3X...
#MicroSky

Jillian Petersen appointed Full Professor at CeMESS We are delighted to announce that Jillian Petersen has been appointed Full Professor (§ 99/4) at the Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS). This appointment marks an excit...

Big news! Jillian Petersen is now Full Professor at CeMESS – making history as the first female Full Professor at our centre. Huge congratulations, Jill!

🔗 Read more: cemess.univie.ac.at/news/detail-...