Infection Biology

How HIV smuggles its genetic material into the cell nucleus

The capsid of the virus acts as a molecular transporter more

Exploding kamikaze bacteria

"Soldier" bacteria filled with toxins sacrifice themselves for the benefit of their conspecifics, giving them pathogenic properties more

Molecular switch plays central role in bacterial dysentery

The regulation of virulence genes in Shigella bacteria is mediated by a CTP-dependent transcription factor more

Malaria parasite takes its time

The pathogens want to benefit as long as possible from the food supply that life in the vector mosquitoes offers them more

No evidence for widespread transmission of viruses by African bats

Contrary to what is often reported, only one species is known to have transmitted pathogens to humans more

Group of wild boar

Accelerometers reading the behavior of wild boars can pick up when animals are infected with a fatal virus more

Division of labor affects the risk of infection

Ants that leave the nest to forage are more likely to be infected by parasites than their nestmates who take care of the brood more

Powdery mildew effectors have a common structural framework

Structural changes are a consequence of the arms race between crop plants and fungal pathogens more

Left: Mercedes Gomez de Agüero, junior group leader of the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology in Würzburg. Right: Anna Wessels Williams (1863-1954), American pioneering bacteriologist and public health advocate.

Mercedes Gomez de Agüero, junior group leader at the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology, about pioneering bacteriologist Anna Wessels Williams   more

Tuberculosis test

New diagnostic tool aims to improve disease management more

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How HIV smuggles its genetic material into the cell nucleus

The capsid of the virus acts as a molecular transporter more

Exploding kamikaze bacteria

"Soldier" bacteria filled with toxins sacrifice themselves for the benefit of their conspecifics, giving them pathogenic properties more

Malaria parasite takes its time

The pathogens want to benefit as long as possible from the food supply that life in the vector mosquitoes offers them more

No evidence for widespread transmission of viruses by African bats

Contrary to what is often reported, only one species is known to have transmitted pathogens to humans more

Tuberculosis vaccine passes safety test

The vaccine candidate VPM1002 shows its safety in a study with HIV- and non-HIV-exposed newborns more

Covid-19 genetic risk variant protects against HIV

A Covid-19 variant inherited from Neanderthals reduces a person’s risk of contracting HIV by 27 percent more

Animal vaccines with self-spreading viruses

Vaccines for animals based on viruses that spread on their own are being developed in Europe and the U.S more

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2021 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Genotoxic <em>E. coli</em> “caught in the act”

Max Planck researchers and their collaborators reveal transformation of colon organoids in vitro more

Heterogeneous populations develop herd immunity quicker

Differences between individuals reduce the number of infections required for herd immunity more

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Perilous Puddles

Admittedly, the research subject isn’t particularly appetizing: Strongyloides stercoralis – small parasitic worms that live in their host’s intestines and have the potential to cause severe problems. Nevertheless, Adrian Streit from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen is fascinated by this threadworm. It has a unique life cycle, and to this day, no one really understands why more

Possible cause of early colonial-era Mexican epidemic identified

Salmonella enterica, the bacterium responsible for enteric fever, may be the long-debated cause of the 1545-1550 AD “cocoliztli” epidemic in Oaxaca, Mexico that heavily affected the native population. more

Sugar molecule helps stomach cells to differentiate between good and bad bugs

Max Planck scientists discover novel innate surveillance mechanism to fight off pathogenic Helicobacter strains more

<p>Are stem cells the link between bacteria and cancer?</p>

New mechanism of stomach gland regeneration reveals impact of Helicobacter pylori infection more

Anthrax: a hidden threat to wildlife in the tropics

Researchers illuminate the epidemiology of a cryptic pathogen more

Zika virus successfully produced in the laboratory

Max Planck scientists fulfil a key requirement for further research on Zika virus and for the production of vaccines more

Bushmeat consumption decreases during the Ebola epidemic

Household income and knowledge about health risks drive the consumption of wild animal meat in West Africa more

Emmanuelle Charpentier

Emmanuelle Charpentier

February 07, 2017

For Emmanuelle Charpentier, deciphering the functioning of an enzyme previously known only to experts was a life-changing moment more

“We still know far too little about bird flu”

Wolfgang Fiedler, an ornithologist at the Radolfzell Ornithological Station, pleads for more research leading to a better understanding of transmission paths more

A virus as a symbiosis partner

The mavirus provides single-celled organisms with immunity against a giant virus more

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