Research interest
The Microbial Evolutionary Genetics (MEG) Lab develops predictive eco-evolutionary understanding of microbial communities. We investigate how ecological context, including antimicrobial exposure and interactions among coexisting species, shapes antimicrobial resistance, community stability, and infection dynamics. Our aim is to determine when these outcomes are predictable and when they depend critically on community structure and environmental conditions.
Our research integrates experimental evolution, synthetic microbial communities, genetic engineering, genomics, and quantitative data science. We design experimentally controlled community systems that progressively incorporate greater ecological and clinical complexity while remaining analytically tractable. This framework allows us to examine how evolutionary change unfolds within interacting microbial populations exposed to defined selective pressures.
A growing focus of the lab is to extend this approach to infection-relevant contexts, including polymicrobial communities, biofilm-forming systems, and device-associated infections. By combining controlled experimentation with predictive modelling, we aim to establish evolution-aware principles that inform antimicrobial treatment strategies and improve understanding of persistent and treatment-resistant infections.
Group members
Lund University
- Johannes Cairns (Principal Investigator)
- Karina Malmros (PhD Senior Scientist)
University of Turku (affiliated group members)
- Anna Bischofberger (Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Inga-Katariina Aapalampi (PhD Researcher)
- Adamaris Muniz Tirado (PhD Researcher)
- Aava Rantakokko (MSc Student)
- Julia Saloranta (MSc Student)