Bartonella are bacteria that are transmitted from blood-sucking insects to mammals, including humans. There they enter the red blood cells and cause various symptoms. An example of such a human infection with a worldwide…

The cell envelope is covered with a wide variety of receptor proteins. They are the sensors to the environment, perceive signals such as the availability of nutrients and transmit this information to the inside of the cell.…

Susan Mango, Professor and Research Group Leader You have been active in research for more than twenty years. Why did you decide to pursue a career in science? I love puzzles! I got into biology because I enjoyed the back…

Alumni Portrait Ina Sonnen, Research Group Leader at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht June 2025 Childhood dream: Becoming a scientist Since she was a child, Ina Sonnen dreamed of becoming a cancer researcher. Although her…

The forefather of phylogenetic trees can be found in Charles Darwin's revolutionary work "On the Origin of Species". These trees provide information about the evolution and relationships of species, from simple cells to…

The scientist passed away at the age of 89 years, on 2 January 2022, in Therwil. With him, the Biozentrum loses an outstanding structural biologist and one of its founding professors. He contributed fundamental insights into…

Cilia perform numerous functions for the cell: they help cells swim, move fluid, and send messages to each other. Cilia ensure that we can see, they remove substances from the lungs, move fluid in the brain, and enable us to…

Bacteria may be small, but they have a remarkable ability to adapt. They colonize a wide variety of habitats – from the human gut to hot springs – and respond with great flexibility to changes in their environment. One…

Elucidation of Host-Pathogen Interactions lead to Antibiotic-Sparing Therapeutics Urinary tract infection is a significant cause of morbidity in women throughout their lifespan, in infant boys and in older men. Serious…

We now live longer than at any point in human history, but to enjoy those extra years, we need to remain healthy, mobile and independent. With age, however, our muscles inevitably lose mass and strength. This age-related…