Veni Grant for Leon Bäcker

Veni Grant for Leon Bäcker

Title: Exploring the genetic regulation of a virus infecting salt-loving archaea

Viruses infect all organisms on Earth, including microorganisms. Archaea make up one of the three domains of life and often thrive in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures or salinities. However, relatively little is known about the life cycle of their viruses. By studying a model salt-loving archaeon and its virus with state-of-the-art genetic and molecular techniques, this project aims to unravel how archaeal viruses time and regulate their infection cycle.

Understanding these mechanisms allows us to draw important conclusions about the evolution of viruses and to create tools that are urgently needed to realize the biotechnological potential of haloarchaea.