Birgitte H. Kallipolitis

Birgitte H. Kallipolitis is a Professor in Molecular Microbiology at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark. She has held academic positions at the institution since 2001, progressing from Assistant Professor to full Professor in 2017. Her research is centered on gene regulatory mechanisms in Gram-positive pathogens, particularly Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.

• Ph.D.: Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 1997
• Postdoctoral Fellow: University of Copenhagen
• Visiting Scientist: University College Cork, Ireland

Her research interests lie at the intersection of molecular microbiology and gene regulation. She investigates how small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), two-component systems, and environmental signals such as fatty acids control bacterial virulence, stress responses, and antibiotic resistance. Her work provides critical insights into the molecular mechanisms that enable pathogens to survive in hostile environments and cause disease. Using advanced molecular and biochemical techniques, her group studies RNA-protein and RNA-RNA interactions, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional control in bacterial systems.

The publication trends over the last five years reflect a strong focus on Listeria monocytogenes virulence regulation by fatty acids and sRNAs, stress response systems like LisRK, and the role of surface proteins in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Her recent work also includes methodological contributions in RNA analysis and genomic epidemiology of resistant pathogens. The keywords across her articles highlight consistent themes in RNA biology, gene regulation, infection mechanisms, and antimicrobial strategies.

Scientific Awards:

• Prize (1 mentioned in profile)

Professor Kallipolitis has supervised several Ph.D. and Master’s students, including E. M. S. Lillebæk, P. T. Dos Santos, and M. Thorsing, and has been involved in numerous research projects funded by national and international grants. Her work has significant implications for understanding bacterial pathogenesis and developing novel anti-infective strategies. She leads the Molecular Microbiology research section and manages a biosafety level 2 laboratory equipped for infection studies using C. elegans and cultured mammalian cells.

Research Group:
The Kallipolitis Lab, also known as the Molecular Microbiology group, focuses on RNA and protein-based regulatory systems in Gram-positive bacteria. The lab maintains facilities for molecular cloning, gene expression analysis, protein purification, and infection assays, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of bacterial gene regulation and host-pathogen interactions.