Morten Otto Alexander Sommer

Morten Otto Alexander Sommer

Scientific Director

DTU BIOSUSTAIN
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability

Technical University of Denmark

Søltofts Plads

Building 220, room 318F

2800 Kgs. Lyngby

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News from DTU

2021
10 MAR

Are ’bacterial probiotics’ a game-changer for the biofuels industry?

New research suggests that the diversity of the microbial community involved in sugarcane ethanol fermentation processes plays a significant role in its performance. Selecting the right bacteria could increase ethanol production by more than a billion liters per year, considering Brazil alone.

Biotechnology and biochemistry Bacteria and microorganisms Fermentation
2020
18 SEP

Resistant bacteria combatted with known antibiotics

It is possible to fight resistant E. coli bacteria by combining two widely known antibiotics.    

Biotechnology and biochemistry Medicine and medico technology
Foto: Colourbox
11 MAY

Anthelmintic drug may be effective against COVID-19

The drug Niclosamide will now be clinically tested for treating coronavirus. DTU Professor Morten Sommer is looking forward to testing the drug in collaboration with a Korean research institute.

Biotechnology and biochemistry
2019
E.coli (SEM) by NIAID from Flickr
19 FEB

Cocktail of common antibiotics can fight resistant E. coli

Scientists from The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU) have discovered that a combination of two common antibiotics is able to eliminate multi-drug resistant E. coli causing urinary tract infections. This combination treatment could become an effective measure against clinically relevant antibiotic resistant urinary...

Health and diseases Bacteria and microorganisms
05 FEB

New anti-CRISPR proteins discovered in soil and human gut

Scientists from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU) have found four new anti-CRISPR proteins that are distributed across different environments. The new study published in Cell Host & Microbe suggests that some anti-CRISPR proteins are more widespread in nature than previously anticipated. These anti-CRISPRs...

Biotechnology and biochemistry Bacteria and microorganisms
2018
21 FEB

Evolution plays many tricks against large-scale bioproduction

Ultra-deep DNA sequencing of thousands of cells uncovers many competing mechanisms of evolution as a threat to efficient scale-up of biobased chemicals production. Evolution plays an underestimated role in bioprocesses and limits yields much more than previously anticipated.  

20 FEB

Pausing evolution makes bioproduction of chemicals affordable and efficient

Circumventing evolution in cell factories can pave the way for commercializing new biobased chemicals to large-scale.

07 FEB

Scientists make it possible to rank the risk of resistance genes

A new study published in Nature Communications will help to predict antibiotic resistance evolution and thus guide future drug development. 

05 JAN

Research paves the way for new rational treatment strategies of multidrug-resistant chronic infections

A new study published in Cell Press finds that antibiotic treatment of chronic infections can be optimized by targeting vulnerabilities of antibiotic-resistant pathogens paving the way for more effective treatment strategies. 

2017
Antibiotic resistance
15 JUN

Scientists solve 30-year old mystery on how resistance genes spread

Scientists have revealed that certain disease-causing bacteria get their resistance genes in a complex process involving bacterial ‘sex’. This new knowledge can potentially lead to a more targeted effort in counteracting the spread of antibiotic resistance

Bacteria and microorganisms Biological systems Cells Enzymes and proteins Fermentation Genes and genomes Synthetic biology
Microbes in the human gut can harbour resistance genes
09 FEB

One step closer to personal antimicrobial treatment

Harmless intestinal bacteria may transfer resistance genes to pathogenic bacteria, making the dangerous bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents. A new method makes it possible to locate resistance genes quickly and thus choose the most effective type of treatment with antimicrobial agents.

Genes and genomes Bacteria and microorganisms Health and diseases
2016
E. coli riboswitch
04 OCT

New biosensor reveals transporter proteins – points towards new antibiotics

A new cutting edge biological sensor have led to the discovery of 25 transporter proteins in bacteria. Transporters control bacterial communication and their uptake of different compounds such as drugs and vitamins. This discovery points towards new antibiotics and more efficient biological production of vitamins.

Bacteria and microorganisms Biological systems Cells Enzymes and proteins Fermentation Genes and genomes Synthetic biology
2014
Photo: Vibeke Hempler
17 DEC

Two ERC grants goes to DTU

DTU researchers receive two out of 11 Danish ERC Starting Grants. The grants will be used for research in multidrug resistance and an improved method for the dating of sediments.

Biological systems Geology Bacteria and microorganisms