Limited oxygen levels affect how therapeutically relevant peptides act and when they are produced by bacteria
PhD defence, Wednesday 24th of June 2026, Marie S. Tvilum
Natural products play a huge role in combating the rising number of antimicrobial-resistant infections, and it is therefore of great interest to expand our knowledge of them. During her PhD studies, Marie S. Tvilum researched the cytotoxic APD-CLD natural product family. By investigating the effects of these compounds against other bacteria, she discovered a unique response to oxygen availability. This was supported by the discovery of increased production when the bacteria were deprived of oxygen. Additionally, Marie S. Tvilum investigated the mechanisms involved in biosynthesizing the natural product family, confirming the contribution from a peculiar enzyme function.
Collectively, these new research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of APD-CLD natural products and their enzymatic machinery.
The PhD study was completed at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.
This summary was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Wednesday, 24th of June 2026 at 1:00 PM
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Awakened by Hypoxia - The Hidden Chemistry of APD-CLD Natural Products
Contact information: Marie S. Tvilum, e-mail: mt@bce.au.dk, tel.: +45 23741396
Members of the assessment committee:
PD Dr. Eve Stegmann, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Tübingen University, Germany
Professor Dr. Tilmann Weber, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Associate Professor Bekir Engin Eser (chair), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Thomas Tørring, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Thomas B. Poulsen, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor Mogens Johannsen, Department of Forensic Medicine and Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.