Henriette Lyng Røder

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My research is focused on bacterial interactions and the emergent properties expressed by multi-species communities compared to the single species isolates. In natural environments bacterial communities consist of several distinct species increasing the complexity of the underlying interactions. Furthermore, these interactions can result in emergent properties like increased degradation, optimized productivity and growth. I am especially interested in characterizing bacterial evolution in multi-species communities so we can understand the driving mechanisms behind the ability to form complex communities, particular in biofilms, and how this affects the interactions and fitness.

Furthermore, bacteria are able to quickly adapt via horizontal gene transfer between the different species e.g. in the form of self-replicating plasmids. Plasmids can provide the bacteria with increased resistance against various stressors e.g. antibiotics, which would have otherwise killed them. I am interested in how plasmids are able to persist and spread in bacterial communities, as this is of great concern in both industrial and medical settings. 

To examine these questions I use a range of different techniques e.g. molecular tools (like fluorescent tagging of bacteria), genome sequencing, PCR, confocal laser scanning microscopy, flow cytometry and classical microbiology assays. A diverse range of biofilm model systems from various static assays to different flow systems like; BioFlux, Drip Flow Reator and Ibidi flow system.

You are always welcome to contact me if you have questions or are interested in collaborating on a project about bacterial interactions and/or plasmid transfer in biofilm communities.