Principal Investigators

- Biogenesis of the archaeal cell envelope / Assembly of macromolecular structures in the archaeal cell envelope / Regulation of archaellum biosynthesis / Signaltransduction cascades and the involvement of protein phosphorylation / Development of genetic tools for different archaeal species

- Signals & transcription factors guiding cell specification during early mouse development / Generation of differentiated cell types from pluripotent stem cells / Morphogenesis and cellular mechanisms of germ layer formation

- Molecular genetics and biochemistry of aging and age-related diseases

- Enzymes and metabolites involved in the degradation of aromatic pollutants in anaerobic bacteria.

- Elucidation of the function of anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members / Characterization of components of RNA-virus (SFV)- and DNA-virus (HSV-1)-induced apoptosis signaling / Elucidation of the apoptotic and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways of the Aspergillus fumigatus toxin gliotoxin to prevent human Aspergillosis.

- Our main scientific interest is to understand the mechanisms by which cells convert the information of extracellular signals, e.g. hormones, growth factors or antigens, into intracellular signals and how these events steer physiological and pathological processes such as cancer.

- Signalling and proliferation during tissue regeneration / Epithelial architecture and biomechanics / Chromatin and epigenetic plasticity

- The behavioral, physiological and biological consequences of neurostimulation (e.g. DBS, optogenetics, focused ultrasound) in experimental models of Depression; and the neurobiology and the neurocircuitry associated with Depression.

- The group „Human T-cell immunodeficiency“ works at the interface of clinical and basic research focussing on human T cell immunity. The projects range from the identification of novel gene defects followed by pathophysiological studies to the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapies.

- Apoptosis signaling / Haematopoietic stem cell biology / Bone marrow failure / Myelodysplastic syndromes / Leukemia / Stem cell transplantation

- Understanding how combinations of genetic mutations affect tumour phenotypes and responses to therapies / Development and use of novel genetic tools allowing high throughput genetics to model complex human tumours in mice / Genetic and chemical library screening to identify novel mutation-specific therapeuties

- Elucidating the role of the germline transcription factor DUX4 in herpesviral infections / Evaluate the transcription factor DUX4 as novel target for anti-herpesviral therapy / Characterize the epigenetics of the herpesviral genome / Identification and characterization of antiviral restriction factors for poxviruses

- Signal regulation of the actin cytoskeleton / Nuclear actin assembly and chromatin dynamics in signaling and mitosis / Invasive cancer cell migration / Optogenetic control of actin regulators / High resolution live cell imaging

- Plant (root) responses to the environment, with a focus on plant submergence / Ethylene and low-oxygen signaling / Epigenetic stress memory

- Invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer using human cell lines and mouse intestinal organoids as model systems / Regulatory networks initiating and executing epithelial-mesenchymal transitions / Functional interplay of transcription factors and chromatin structure at cis-regulatory DNA elements

- Our research interest is covering virology and immunology. We focus on both cytomegalovirus-encoded and host-encoded Fc-Receptors. The former are potent manipulators of IgG and innate humoral immunity, the latter implicated in antiviral defence but also immunopathology.

- Molecular mechanisms of genetic kidney diseases / Biology of the renal filtration barrier / Endocytosis and trafficking of the slit diaphragm protein nephrin / We combine human genetic analyses with animal models (Drosophila and mouse) and whole organism drug screening

- Identification of inflammatory processes responsible for the imbalanced immune response in atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases / Defining feasible targets for immunomodulation to restore proper resolution of inflammation

- Molecular mechanisms of light perception an downstream signalling in seed plants and cryptogams (e.g. Arabidopsis thaliana, Physcomitrella patens) / Evolution of light signalling in plants / Phytochrome signalling / Integration of light, hormone, and environmental signalling

- Regulation of plant biochemical pathways to investigate central metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, signalling and stress response / Metabolomics to unravel molecular mechanisms involved in Parkinson's disease and neurodegeneration / Biomarker identification in cancer / Analysis of the mitochondrial metabolome/ Metabolomics of prostate cancer.

- We use cell biological and biochemical approaches to study plant (cell) size determination at a molecular, subcellular, and organ scale. Our research unravels hormonal control of plant growth and thereby mechanistically characterizes traits of agricultural significance.

- Molecular biology of Orthomyxoviruses, Influenza A- and tick-transmitted Thogoto virus / Role of viral IFN antagonists for virulence in the mouse model / Antiviral function of Mx proteins / Evolution of Mx proteins in primates, rodents and bats.

- Elucidation of the functions and molecular mechanisms of the cancer-promoting phosphatase PRL-3 and the ubiquitous phosphatase PP1 / Development of inhibitors and activators for phosphatases

- Genetic Epidemiology / Complex kidney and metabolic diseases / Transport mechanisms in the kidney / Monogenic kidney and solute transport diseases / Population-based studies / Pharmacogenomics / Use of genetic information for personalized health care, prevention.

- Subcellular organization and functional interaction of metabotropic receptors and their effector ion channels / Dynamics of the surface expression and subunit composition of synapse-related proteins / Activity-dependent structural and molecular alterations of central neurons / High-resolution quantitative immunoelectron microscopy / Electrophysiology / Pharmacology

- Pathophysiology of heart failure / mouse models with experimentally induced heart failure (e.g. myocardial infarction or viral myocarditis) / interplay of cardiac inflammation and fibrotic remodelling / in vitro cell culture experiments to elucidate the molecular mechanisms.

- Signaltransduction in mitochondrial protein import / Mitochondrial signal switches in tumor diseases / Mitochondrial protein quality control in Alzeimer’s disease

- Molecular mechanisms of craniofacial development / Development of the sensory placodes / Feather development

- Molecular markers in Myeloproliferative Disorders / The role of transcription factor NF-E2 -Molecular etiology of NF-E2 and PRV-1 Overexpression in MPD / Molecular heterogeneity in Essential Thrombycythemia / Mouse models of myeloproliferative disorders

- Epigenetic regulation of cardiovascular cell types / Transcriptional control of cardiovascular diseases / Molecular characterization of genetic variants / Single cell genomics, epigenomics, functional genomics

- Pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and the resulting adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (EAC)

- Gene expression (transcripts, proteins, protein modifications, metabolites, sub-cellular integration) in the moss Physcomitrella patens

- Extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture / Impact of mechanical and chemical ECM properties on tumor progression / Identifying metastasis predisposing ECM features for diagnostic and therapeutic options

- Our research focuses on host-pathogen interactions. We are interested in understanding the impact of diverse bacterial virulence factors on host cell physiology. For instance, we aim at elucidating how the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectins LecA and LecB impair wound healing processes. To achieve our scientific goals, we usually combine “complex”, analytical approaches with “minimal”, synthetic approaches.

- Define the protein complexes that change in time and space within the signaling cascades of the antigen TCR

- We apply innovative proteomic and degradomic techniques to understand how proteolysis contributes to physiological and pathological processes. With over 560 proteases in man, this enzyme family ranks among the most abundant protein classes, illustrating its ubiquitous importance in human biology. We understand proteolysis as a post-translational modification that regulates protein location, function, and abundance.

- Design and implementation of new optogenetic tools for modulating the activity of excitable cells and tissues / Development of optogenetic approaches for functionally dissecting electrical interactions between cardiac cell populations / Electrophysiological characterization of cardiac non-myocytes / 3D reconstruction of cellular networks in healthy and diseased hearts.

- Species transmission of highly pathogenic influenza A viruses / Emerging bat viruses / Innate immunity / Neurotropic viruses

- Neural circuits of visual reflexes and visual navigation in Drosophila / Technology development for neurobiology and neuroethology / Neurogenetic, including optogenetic, approaches to neural circuit function

- My research focus lies on the immune responses in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), specifically the immunological determinants of viral clearance and persistence.

- Membrane protein assembly / Single molecule imaging / Superresolution / Biophysics of receptors in neuroscience / Immunology and signalling

- Structural and functional plasticity of neurons and their molecular regulation / Role of homeostatic plasticity at the interface between health and disease / Cellular and molecular mechanisms of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) / Impact of neuroinflammation and neurocoagulation on neuro-glial interactions and synaptic plasticity

- Our group wants to understand the role of mitochondrial proteases in the maintenance of the mitochondrial proteome. We use yeast, mammalian and patient cells to investigate the pathophysiological consequences of dysfunctions in these proteases that result in severe neurodegenerative diseases and cardiomyopathies.

- Pathogenesis of renal cystic disease

- Biogenesis of mitochondrial beta-barrel membrane proteins and alpha-helical outer membrane proteins / Import, sorting, insertion and assembly of mitochondrial alpha-helical inner membrane proteins / Assembly of respiratory chain complexes / Analysis of the mitochondrial proteome in yeast and human cells.

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