Annika Guse

Prof. Dr. Annika Guse is a Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), leading the Guse Lab focused on coral symbiosis. Her research explores the molecular mechanisms underpinning the symbiotic relationship between corals and dinoflagellates, with particular emphasis on understanding coral bleaching caused by climate change. She employs the sea anemone Aiptasia as a model organism, integrating molecular cell biology, biochemistry, and comparative phylogenetic approaches.

Key research areas include symbiont acquisition, host-symbiont nutrient exchange, and evolutionary adaptations. Her work bridges benchtop experiments with field studies, aiming to uncover how symbiotic interactions contribute to ecosystem resilience. The lab collaborates widely, publishing in high-impact journals like Current Biology and Annual Review of Genetics.

Prof. Guse’s team investigates cell biological processes such as mTOR signaling, photoreceptor diversification, and nuclear transformation in symbionts. These studies provide insights into symbiosis stability and its vulnerability to environmental stressors. The lab also develops innovative tools, like microinjection techniques for Aiptasia zygotes, advancing cnidarian research methodologies.

Her publications highlight discoveries in symbiont immune evasion, vomocytosis suppression, and sterol transfer mechanisms. Despite no explicitly listed awards, the breadth and depth of her contributions underscore her leadership in coral symbiosis research. The Guse Lab collaborates with the Keller Lab and maintains an active presence at LMU’s Biocenter in Planegg-Martinsried.