Rising temperatures, droughts or floods alter ecosystems and also affect the world of bacteria. A new research alliance, comprising three universities in Hannover, is investigating how microorganisms adapt to climate change – and potential consequences for humans, animals and plants. The three-year project “Bacterial Climate Resilience in One Health” (BaKlimON) will be launched on 1 July 2026.
Within BaKlimON, researchers from Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo) are pooling their microbiological expertise. The project is receiving 3.2 million euros in funding from the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the zukunft.niedersachsen funding programme. Spokesperson Prof. Dr. Natalia Tschowri from the Institute of Microbiology at LUH coordinates BaKlimON. Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter from the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology at MHH and Prof. Dr. Ralph Goethe from the Institute of Microbiology at TiHo act as co-spokespersons.
A One Health approach for an interconnected world
Bacteria can be found everywhere: in the soil, in plants and animals, as well as in the human body. They play a key role in nutrient cycles and our health, but they can also cause infectious diseases. As climate change alters temperature and humidity, it also changes the environment in which bacteria live. “Surprisingly, we still know very little about how bacteria respond to climate change. The BaKlimON alliance is investigating whether this creates new risks or even new opportunities," says Professor Tschowri.
"BaKlimON follows the One Health approach. This approach views the health of humans, animals and the environment as closely interlinked: Changes in plants or animals can also affect humans,” adds Professor Schlüter.
Impact on soil, plants, animals and humans
“We focus on two key climatic factors – temperature stress and water stress – and their significant impact on the availability of oxygen, osmolarity and the concentration of toxins, such as heavy metals and antibiotics on microbial communities and bacterial adaptation mechanisms,” adds Professor Goethe.
The alliance comprises 13 projects – five at Leibniz University Hannover, five at Hannover Medical School and three at TiHo.
At Leibniz University Hannover, researchers are concentrating their efforts on microbial communities and the impact of potentially pathogenic microbes on the environment in conditions of climate stress. Particular emphasis is placed on the response of soil and plant bacteria to droughts or flooding.
The team at Hannover Medical School is investigating the effect of changes in temperature and humidity on the human microbiome, infection mechanisms and antibiotic resistance. The focus is also on well-known pathogens, such as Salmonella, Listeria and Escherichia coli. For instance, the researchers are investigating whether humans come into contact with pathogens more frequently when bacterial communities in their environment change due to climate change.
At TiHo, researchers are taking a One Health approach to investigate the impact of climate change on infectious agents in humans and animals. Their particular interest lies in the effects on pathogenicity, as well as in the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The focus is on clinically significant pathogens in both veterinary and human medicine, such as staphylococci, enterobacteria and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The researchers are investigating them specifically for climate-related molecular changes that could affect their pathogenic properties and modes of transmission.
A strong network in Hannover – a research and higher-education hub
BaKlimON unites the microbiological expertise of Hannover's three leading universities, creating a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration. The network will also be integrated into the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research.
Bringing together the fields of human, animal and environmental microbiology enables the alliance to investigate questions that have rarely been considered together before. In addition, the alliance focuses on supporting junior researchers. A structured programme has been designed to promote early-career researchers and prepare them for international research careers. Workshops, symposia and collaborations with graduate schools are intended to encourage exchange across disciplinary and institutional boundaries.
Note to editors:
For further information, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Natalia Tschowri, Institute of Microbiology at LUH (tel. 0511 762 5241, email: tschowri@ifmb.uni-hannover.de)
Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology at MHH, (tel. 0511 532 6769, email: schlueter.dirk@mh-hannover.de)
Prof. Dr. Ralph Goethe, Institute of Microbiology at TiHo, (tel. 0511 856 8305, email: ralph.goethe@tiho-hannover.de)
