Karl-Heinz Schleifer

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Karl-Heinz Schleifer (born February 10, 1939 in Freising ) is a German microbiologist and emeritus professor of microbiology at the Weihenstephan Science Center at the Technical University of Munich .

Life

Schleifer studied biology, chemistry and geography at what was then the TH Munich from 1959 to 1964 . In 1967 he received his doctorate in biology from the TH Munich under Otto Kandler . He then worked from 1966 to 1969 as a research assistant at the Institute for Applied Botany at the same university. From 1969 to 1970 he was a fellow of the German Research Foundation (DFG) at Rockefeller University, New York, and at the Medical School of New York University . In 1971 he qualified as a professor at the Department of Botany and Microbiology at LMU Munich . From 1971 to 1974 he was scientific advisor and professor at the LMU Munich, where he was acting head of the chair for microbiology at the LMU since 1972 .

In 1974 he was appointed full professor of microbiology at the Technical University of Munich . Between 1979 and 1989 he received offers to the chairs of microbiology at the TU Berlin, the University of Hohenheim and the University of Vienna, all of which he refused. Between 1986 and 1988 he was Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences at the Technical University of Munich. In 2007 he retired. Since 2007 he has been TUM " Emeritus of Excellence ".

Scientific work

Schleifer has long been concerned with the identification and classification of bacteria. Several bacteria were named after him, for example Staphylococcus schleiferi, Microbacterium schleiferi or Schleiferia thermophila. He was one of the first scientists in Germany to develop the gene probe technology, which makes it possible to detect bacteria in wastewater or in food without prior cultivation. He was involved in several DFG special research areas and numerous EU projects.

Fonts (selection)

500 publications in international scientific journals on the chemistry, immunology and biological activity of the bacterial cell walls, on the systematics and biochemistry of various Gram-positive bacteria (in particular staphylococci, micrococci, streptococci, enterococci, lactococci, lactobacilli). Various publications on the evolution of bacteria, on the identification of bacteria with the help of genetic engineering methods, especially rRNA-directed gene probes. Investigations into the microflora of sewage treatment plants and drinking water. One of the world's most frequently cited scientists in the field of microbiology, for example in 2001 in position 3. The following two papers were cited more than 2000 times:

  • KH Schleifer, O. Kandler: Peptidoglycan types of bacterial cell walls and their taxonomic implications. In: Bacteriol. Reviews. Volume 36, 1972, pp. 407-477.
  • R. Amann, W. Ludwig, KH Schleifer: Phylogenetic identification and in situ detection of individual microbial cells without cultivation. In: Microbiol. Reviews. Vol. 59, 1995, pp. 143-169.

As co-editor and editor he worked on: The Prokaryotes. A Handbook on the Biology of Bacteria: Symbiotic Associations, Biotechnology, Applied Microbiology. 3. Edition. Springer, New York 2006 (7 volumes, Volume 1: ISBN 978-0-387-25476-0 .). He was co-editor of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology . 2nd Edition. Volume 3, 2009.

Scientific activities

  • Editor of the journal Systematic and Applied Microbiology, since 1991
  • President of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology, 1989–1992
  • Secretary General of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, 1986–1994
  • Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Geology at the Technical University of Munich, 1986–1988
  • Full member of Bergey's Manual Trust, 1989–2009
  • Member of the supervisory board of the German Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, 1992–2000
  • International Coordinating Committee of the American Society for Microbiology: at-large member, 1998-2007
  • Vice-Chairman (Bacteriology / Applied Microbiology) of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), 1999–2002
  • Chairman of the Bacteriology / Applied Microbiology Division of IUMS, 2002-2005
  • 2005 to 2008: President of the International Union of Microbiological Societies

Honourings and prices

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Entry at TUM Emeriti of Excellence AZ. ( emeriti-of-excellence.tum.de ( Memento from October 29, 2016 in the Internet Archive ))
  2. ↑ Ferdinand Cohn Medal - German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology eV ( Memento from August 1, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ http://researchanalytics.thomsonreuters.com/highlycited/names/s/ ( Memento from November 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ Federal Cross of Merit for Prof. Karl-Heinz Schleifer: New insight into previously unknown worlds of microbes , October 11, 2006.
personal data
SURNAME Schleifer, Karl-Heinz
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German microbiologist
DATE OF BIRTH February 10, 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH Freising