Dr. Stephan Uphoff

Biography

Prof. Stephan Uphoff's research focuses on the mechanisms of DNA repair and mutagenesis in bacteria, particularly how these organisms thrive in adverse environments. His lab investigates the stress responses that allow bacteria to temporarily protect themselves from cell damage and toxic chemicals. Through his work, Uphoff explores the phenomenon of phenotypic adaptation, which provides bacteria an opportunity to evolve permanent stress resistance through genetic change. His research addresses the failures of antibiotics to cure bacterial infections, which are often linked to stress responses promoting bacterial survival and the evolution of drug resistance. Employing quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches, his lab develops advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to visualize molecular events in real-time within living cells. This includes the use of super-resolution microscopy and single-molecule tracking to record the localization and movement of individual DNA repair enzymes and transcription factors. By monitoring cellular responses to stress with microfluidic devices, Uphoff seeks to decipher the molecular events within cells and determine their long-term fates. Notably, his single-cell analysis has revealed variability in bacterial phenotypes even under constant environmental conditions, a phenomenon associated with stress survival, and has uncovered that mutation rates fluctuate due to variations in the expression of DNA repair proteins. These findings pose fundamental questions about the regulatory mechanisms of mutagenesis and are investigated through novel microscopy and genetic approaches.

Research Interests