The Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene is involved in research on bacteriology, virology and hygiene topics.

Focussing on specific infectious agents, both basic and applied scientific issues are addressed.

Correspondingly, we collaborate with esearch teamsr from our university (hospital) affiliated at the Experimental and Clinical Surgery, Gastroenterology, Immunogenetics, Infectious Diseases, Orthopedics, Proteomics and Technical Biology Departments.

Equally important, we collaborate with research teams from German, French, Dutch, Norwegian and Israeli universities.

The research is financed by grants from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Technology, the DFG and some companies.

The following main topics are currently addressed:

1. Bacteriology
Streptococcus pyogenes pathogenesis mechanisms including a system biology comparison to non-pathogenic streptococci

2. Bacteriology - The importance of biofilms in
a) oral infections, especially periodontitis;
b) implant-associated infections, especially osteoarthritis and biotechnical approaches such as the  usage of probiotics to fight biofilms

3. Infection Immunology and Innate Immunity

4. Hygiene
optimization and validation of microscopic, culture- and nucleic acid-based techniques for the detection of infectious agents, e. g. in the epidemiology of nosocomial agents

5. Präanalytik