My main focus is on molecular microbiology and bacterial genetics. Previously, plasmid biology in natural environments was among my main research topics. Finding new strategies to limit the occurrence of plasmid-borne spread of antimicrobial resistance mediated through horizontal gene transfer was of interest. This work included the construction of several fluorescence-based reporter-gene systems for detecting plasmid transfer. More recent work areas include the response of bacterial chromosomes upon environmental stress conditions. Here, exploring the interaction between replication initiation and the stringent stress response regulator, ppGpp, using Escherichia coli as model organism, has been of interest. Currently, I’m highly engaged in exploring the role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation patterns, in bacterial persistence  development and evolution. In particular, I’m interested in addressing whether bacterial cells display a memory of specific epigenetic traits that might serve to promote the formation of bacterial persistence upon consecutive rounds of stress over time.