Uli Schwarz-Linek

Group Highlights

Bacteria and viruses use proteins (virulence factors) to colonise their hosts, avoid the immune system, and spread in infected organisms. We use structural biology (NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM) combined with cell-based assays, biophysical and biochemical methods to investigate the molecular basis for interactions between pathogens and hosts. We focus on surface proteins of Gram-positive bacteria and interferon antagonists of negative-strand RNA viruses. Our most important discoveries to date:

• Identification and characterisation of TIE proteins as a common class of adhesins of Gram-positive bacteria
• Covalent binding of bacterial TIE proteins to a host protein
• Structural basis of intranuclear filament formation of Rift Valley fever phlebovirus NSs protein