Kevin Pfeifer

I'm a Molecular Biologist, with a keen interest in Archaea based Biotechnology and its potential in the Bioeconomy. I'm currently studying the S-layer of hyperthermophilic archaea, in a joint effort between the University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources with the aim of building bio-based filters and Nano-carriers.

This work has introduced me into the untapped potential of archaea as cell factories, which I hope to explore in the future.

Outside of research, I’m an adventure enthusiast and hobby Photographer. My largest current adventure being the Mongol Rally, during which my team travelled through 17 countries in 28 days in a 1998 Ford Fiesta.

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Resume

Scientist

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Publications

Archaea in der Biotechnologie

BIOspektrum 2021
Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann, Kevin Pfeifer, Hayk Palabikyan, İpek Ergal & Bernhard Schuster
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Archaea Biotechnology

Biotechnology Advances 2020
Kevin Pfeifer, İpek Ergal, Martin Koller, Mirko Basen, Bernhard Schuster, Simon K.-M.R. Rittmann
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<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12745-x">CRISPR-mediated gene silencing reveals involvement of the archaeal S-layer in cell division and virus infection</a>

CRISPR-mediated gene silencing reveals involvement of the archaeal S-layer in cell division and virus infection

Nature Communications 2019
Kevin Pfeifer, Isabelle Zink, Erika Wimmer, Uwe Sleytr, Bernhard Schuster, and Christa Schleper
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<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01571/abstract">Ammonia oxidation by the arctic terrestrial thaumarchaeote Ca. Nitrosocosmicus arcticus is stimulated by increasing temperatures</a>

Ammonia oxidation by the arctic terrestrial thaumarchaeote Ca. Nitrosocosmicus arcticus is stimulated by increasing temperatures

Frontiers in Microbiology 2019
Ricardo J. Alves, Melina Kerou, Anna Zappe, Romana Bittner, Sophie S. Abby, Heiko Schmidt, Kevin Pfeifer and Christa Schleper*
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<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00028/full">Candidatus Nitrosocaldus cavascurensis, an Ammonia Oxidizing, Extremely Thermophilic Archaeon with a Highly Mobile Genome</a>

Candidatus Nitrosocaldus cavascurensis, an Ammonia Oxidizing, Extremely Thermophilic Archaeon with a Highly Mobile Genome

Frontiers in Microbiology 2018
Sophie S. Abby, Michael Melcher, Melina Kerou, Mart Krupovic, Michaela Stieglmeier, Claudia Rossel, Kevin Pfeifer and Christa Schleper*
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Conferences and Workshops

15th International Congress on Thermophiles 2019

Talk:
Title of the abstract: CRISPR-mediated silencing of slaB reveals vital roles of the S-layer in cell division and virus infection in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

12th International Congress of Extremophiles 2018

Poster:
Phenotype characterization of a SlaB knock-down in Sulfolobus sulfataricus

EMBO Workshop 2018: Molecular biology of archaea: From mechanisms to ecology

Poster:
Phenotype characterization of a SlaB knock-down in Sulfolobus sulfataricus

International Symposion: Editing genomes with CRISPR - Between scientific breakthroughs and societal challenges

Talk:
Presenting a case-study within the segment: CRISPR/Cas9: A brief history and potential futures

Education

2017-2021

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien

Doctoral Studies

Synthetic Bioarchitecture
Department of Nanobiotechnology

2014 – 2017

University of Vienna

Master of Science

Molecular Biology/Biochemistry

2010 – 2014

University of Vienna

Bachelor of Science

Microbiology and Genetics

2006 – 2008

Frankfurt International School

International Baccalaureate

2002-2006

Seoul Foreign School

Middle- / High-school

In the News

A hot strip: how a hyperthermophilic archaeon lives without an intact cell wall

Research Communities by Springer Nature

Die nackte Wahrheit: Wenn ein Mikroorganismus seine Hüllen fallen lässt

ForscherInnen untersuchten Rolle der S-Schicht in Mikroorganismen

medienportal.univie.ac.at

Nackte Archaeen tun sich bei der Zellteilung schwer

Mit einer neu entwickelten Methode basierend auf der Genschere CRISPR schafften es die Wiener Wissenschafter den Einzellern ihre Zellwand, auch S-Schicht genannt, sozusagen auszuziehen.

www.studium.at

Die vielseitige Rüstung der Mikroben

Eine dicke Schicht aus Proteinen schützt die meisten Archaeen und viele Bakterien vor widrigen Umweltbedingungen. Eine neue Studie zeigt, dass der Panzer auch eine wichtige Rolle im Zellzyklus spielt.

Die Presse