Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I'm a biologist working at the interface of microbiology and analytical chemistry with interest in bacterial metabolism, evolution and infection. The overarching aim of my research is to understand how fundamental biological processes are affected by the metabolic state of an organism. Using metabolic profiling techniques I investigate the mechanistic link between metabolism, virulence and resistance, placing particular emphasis on bacterial interaction.
Qualifications
PhD: Metabolic profiling of cystic fibrosis pathogen (Imperial College, 2010)
MRes : Biomedical Research (Imperial College, 2006)
Dipl. Biol: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Phys. Chemistry (Univ. Göttingen, 2005)
Research interests
I am interested in how different microbes manage the trade-off between optimising growth an maintaining physiological flexibility. In particular, I want to investigate how stress and antibiotic exposure affect bacterial intra- and inter-species competition.
I have worked in the field of microbial and general metabolomics, employing NMR and MS-based metabolomics coupled to statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, I aim to understand the role of bacterial metabolism in health and disease and how the metabolism is influenced by the cell's surroundings. My work encompasses both wet- and dry-lab settings, in which I develop sampling and data analysis approaches drawing on and enhancing my knowledge in the areas of microbiology, infection biology and bacterial stress responses as well as scientific programming
Research projects
Understanding metabolic evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis lung
P. aeruginosa can cause chronic infections in the lung of cystic fibrosis. During the time, the bacterium undergoes genetic as well as phenotypic alterations. I am interested in how these changes affect microbial virulence and antibiotic resistance.
Characterising intracellular host-pathogen interactions with a view of discovering new avenues for treatment.
Treating intracellular infections presents a formidable clinical challenge, as antibiotics effective at killing the pathogen in vitro are often unable to do so once the pathogen enters the host cells. We aim to understand the host pathways that are important or essential for pathogen survival. The enables us to look for host-directed treatments, e.g. looking to repurpose drugs that have been approved for treatment of different condition, in an infection biology context.
Professional affiliations
Vereinigung fuer allgemeine und angewandte Microbiologie (DE): 2006-present
Biochemical Society (UK): 2011-present
Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM, UK): 2011-present
Teaching
My teaching interest include microbiology, analytical chemistry and bacterial pathophysiology. Projects for supervision include antibiotic susceptibility-centred projects and metabolic profiling data analysis.
Links
External positions
Honorary Lecturer, Imperial College London
15 Sep 2014 → 14 Sep 2017
Network
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Samples on Nutrimmune project
Behrends, V., Costabile, A. & Patterson, M.
3/04/23 → …
Project: Research
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Cerrado and Pantanal fruit flours affect gut microbiota composition in healthy and post-COVID-19 individuals: An in vitro pilot fermentation study
Esposito, M. T., Calle, Y., Behrends, V. & Costabile, A., 23 Dec 2022, In: International Journal of Food Science and Technology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile41 Downloads (Pure) -
Intermediate levels of predation and nutrient enrichment enhance the activity of ibuprofen degrading bacteria
Peralta-Maraver, I., Rutere, C., Horn, M. A., Reche, I., Behrends, V., Reiss, J. & Robertson, A., 16 Sep 2022, In: Microbial Ecology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Involvement of the extracellular matrix and integrin signalling proteins in skeletal muscle glucose uptake
Tillin, N. A., Hurren, N. M., Draicchio, F., Lykke Sylow, L., Behrends, V. & Mackenzie, R. W. A., 2 Sep 2022, In: Journal of Physiology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile26 Downloads (Pure) -
Temporal hierarchy and context-dependence of quorum sensing signal in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Katzarov, S. & Behrends, V., 18 Nov 2022, In: Life.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure) -
Anopheles coluzzii stearoyl-CoA desaturase is essential for adult female survival and reproduction upon blood feeding
Ferdous, Z., Fuchs, S., Behrends, V., Trasanidis, N., Waterhouse, R. M., Vlachou, D. & Christophides, G. K., 20 May 2021, In: PLoS Pathogens. 17, 5Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Metabolites (Journal)
Volker Behrends (Guest editor)
Mar 2023 → Dec 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial Activity
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London Metabolomics Network meeting
Volker Behrends (Organiser)
21 Apr 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic workshop, seminar, course
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Pint of Science
Volker Behrends (Speaker)
16 May 2022Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Public speaking engagements
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Imperial College London
Volker Behrends (Speaker)
17 Feb 2022Activity: Talk or presentation for an academic audience › Invited talk for an academic audience