The research undertaken in our unit is centered on genomics and pathogenicity of mycobacteria, which we integrate into a common research program to uncover novel features of mycobacterial pathogens in relation with mycobacterial evolution and the interaction of pathogenic mycobacteria with their hosts.
While most mycobacteria are harmless saprophytes, a few species have very efficiently adapted to a pathogenic lifestyle and constitute some of most important human pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of human tuberculosis.
Our research in the Unit is focused on mycobacterial research on these pathogenic species, with main focus on mycobacterial type VII / ESX secretion systems, the patho-evolution of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex – starting from a pool of Mycobacteriium canettii-like generic mycobacteria, as well as on selected aspects of mycobacterial pathogenicity, anti-mycobacterial immunity and anti-tuberculosis vaccine development.
