Human skin and mucous membranes are naturally colonized by microorganisms that have essential roles for important body functions. Under unfavourable conditions, however, e.g. when the immune system is compromised bacteria of the normal microbiota can cause severe infection and inflammation.

How the various microbes communicate with each other and with the human organism, how they support or combat each other has remained only superficially understood. The investigation and utilization of microbial targets, biomarkers, and bioactive compounds for therapy and prevention of infections represents a major challenge for life science research.

The Section's research is focused on staphylococci, a group of skin-colonizing bacteria that cause a huge number of severe infections, and their interaction with human host defense. Cooperation with other research teams around the world and participation in several research consortia form the basis for highly relevant research activities.