What are you researching right now, Ms Frunzke?

Prof. Julia Frunzke, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1: Biotechnology) and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

“We are interested in phages. These viruses look a bit like tiny lunar modules. In reality, however, they are not bluish violet and measure only about 50 to 200 nanometres. Phages are masters at manipulating their hosts: bacteria. They specifically change the metabolism of the bacteria so that they can multiply optimally in them. We would like to copy the tricks they use and apply them in industrial processes – for example, in order to have bacteria produce active medical ingredients or fine chemicals.”