Thomas Decker Lab

Our main interest is the host defense provided by the innate immune system against micoorganisms. Alertness to microbial invasion and the subsequent mobilization of strategic defense is orchestrated by a large number of polypeptide mediators, the cytokines. Examples for these are the interferons that serve to prepare cells for the elimination of viruses or bacteria. We study both the signals elicited by the invading microbes leading to a cytokine response by the host as well as the ways by which these cytokines control the ensuing immune response. As described in more detail below our research is embedded into several networks that allow us to tap state-of-the-art technologies, thus increasing the impact and visibility of our work.