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Microbiology

The Department of Microbiology studies molecular functions of bacterial cells. We are interested in questions of bacterial pathogenicity as well as basic cellular functions such as the assembly of complex molecular machines.
Higher organisms such as humans are in constant contact with microorganisms and many parts of the body are colonized with microorganisms. While this coexistence usually goes unnoticed, some microorganisms can cause disease.
Using Salmonella enterica, an intestinal pathogenic bacterium, as a model organism, the research group is investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease development. The precise knowledge of bacterial virulence factors may enable the future development of new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of infectious diseases. In view of the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, the development of new therapeutic approaches is particularly important.