Structure, function, and evolution of genome-wide regulatory networks Most projects that we pursue concern the functioning and evolution of genome-wide regulatory systems in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. The…

The WHO calls the creeping and rapidly growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria a “silent pandemic”. The crisis is aggravated by the fact that hardly any new drugs have come onto the market in recent decades. Even…

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of biomolecules We apply and develop high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods to elucidate structure, function, and dynamics of biological macromolecules. The…

After more than two years of the Covid pandemic, research and life at the Biozentrum have largely returned to normal. This extraordinary time has taught us that much can be replaced by virtual formats, but face-to-face…

With its hundreds of thousands of nerve cells, the vertebrate brain is the most complex organ in the animal kingdom. During vertebrate evolution not only have the number of neurons and consequently the volume of the brain…

No matter where you go, you always find someone there already. This is true for many living creatures but especially for bacteria. In order to be able to stand their ground and eliminate unwanted rivals, many bacteria rely…

The European Research Council (ERC) recently announced that Prof. Flavio Donato is one of 408 young top researchers to receive one of the much coveted grants. According to the ERC, a total of 621 million euros have been…

Publication list - curated & annotated Recent highlights Bacteria use a general danger signal to trigger biofilm formation - Nature Microbiology 2025 Mechanical properties of biofilms measured with spatial resolution -…