Microbial surface colonization
Microbial surface colonization plays an important role in basic biological processes such as symbiosis (plant-microbe symbiosis is important for agriculture), pathogenesis (colonization of the gut, of teeth, or the skin by disease agents), and in biofilms that have impact on the environment (e.g. by covering eutrophic lakes, etc.).
A better understanding of the basic principles
A better understanding of the basic principles of this omnipresent process will not only impact our understanding of disease and symbiosis, but also has direct relevance in industrial biotechnology, where colonization of surfaces by microorganisms is sometimes wanted (in fermenters or natural water filters), and sometimes not (when clogged pipes, or microbe-covered surfaces from glass, steel, or plastic have to be cleaned with great effort).
Interdisciplinary research
MISC combines expertise in symbiosis, pathogenesis, and industrial biotechnology to foster interdisciplinary projects and cross-talk between seemingly unrelated fields that all face the same problem: a lack of understanding of the basic principles underlying the process of microbial surface colonization, independent of the surface.
Student and staff exchange
MISC will allow the participating projects and research groups in Oslo, Beijing and Nagoya to have active exchange of students and research personnel for the purpose of participating in courses, workshops/summer schools, and seminars, but also for laboratory internships in the framework of collaboration projects. Travel between the three participating countries and long-term stays are costly, and cannot be realized through the existing grants. It is planned to continue and expand the MISC effort through larger, future applications e.g. with MSCA-RISE.