Salomé LeibundGut: Fungal Infections

Some fungal species including Candida albicans can cause life-threatening diseases in some individuals. The group of Salomé LeibundGut is interested to understand the immune mechanisms that confer protection against this important class of pathogens. The T cell-mediated response and the interplay between the innate and adaptive immune system are of major interest.  >>

Annette Oxenius: Infection Immunology

The main research goal of Annette's group is the elucidation of molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms of innate and adaptive immune defense against acute and persistent viral or bacterial infections in relation to the dynamics of the infecting pathogen.  >>
 

Julia Vorholt:  Physiology of Methylotrophic Bacteria

The group of Julia Vorholt works on the mechanisms of adaptation to life on plant surfaces using methylotrophic bacteria as model organisms. Of particular interest is the metabolism of these bacteria that is based on one-carbon compound conversion.  >>
 

Markus Aebi: Microbial Glycobiology

The group works on the N-linked glycosylation of proteins both in eukaryotes and in bacteria. Elegant genetic procedures have led to the isolation of different mutants that are defective in defined steps in the assembly of the lipid-linked core oligosaccharide and the transfer of the oligosaccharide to polypeptides.   >>
 

Wolf-Dietrich Hardt: Salmonella Pathogenesis

Salmonella spp. are pathogenic bacteria which can colonize the intestine of humans and animals. Wolf-Dietrich Hardt and his group analyze the molecular mechanisms of Salmonella enterocolitis. The SPI-1 Type III secretion system of Salmonella Typhimurium (TTSS-1) is of special interest.   >>
 

Hauke Hennecke: Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

The group of Hauke Hennecke has substantially advanced our knowledge of the genetic control of the nitrogen fixation process and the energy metabolism of the bacteroid. New genomics approaches will help better understand these processes in bacteria.  >>
 

Antonio Lanzavecchia: Immune regulation

Antonio Lanzavecchia is interested in understanding how signaling from antigen receptors, co-stimulatory molecules and cytokines determines lymphocyte fate. His working hypothesis is that lymphocyte differentiation is a progressive process determined by the cumulative strength of stimulation (i.e. intensity and duration) resulting from the stochastic exposure of T cells to antigen presenting cells and cytokines.   >>