The research groups participating in SDI combine excellent knowledge in infection biology with state of the art techniques in structural biology.

The groups of Christian Betzel, Matthias Wilmanns, Michael Rübhausen, Henry Chapman and Bernd Meyer have a strong track record in applying powerful biophysical methods like protein crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Raman-spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) using the new Free Electron Laser and synchrotron facilities at DESY.

The group of Hartmut Schlüter has a strong expertise in protein chemistry and proteomics and the groups of Volker Heussler (Plasmodium berghei liver cell infection), Holger Rohde (Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation), Michael Schindler (Hepatitis-C-Virus infection system), Nicole Fischer/Adam Grundhoff (Merkel cell polyoma virus cell and tissue infection), Marc Lütgehetmann/Maura Dandri (Hepatitis-B-Virus animal model), Markus Glatzel (Prion activity in animal models), Carsten Wrenger (Vitamin B1 synthesis in staphylococci) and Martin Aepfelbacher (Yersinia infection systems and bacterial pathogenic complexes) will integrate their extensive expertise in infection biology.

The results of these research projects will have tremendous relevance for the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents.