Host and Pathogen

Host and Pathogen

The Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology focuses on understanding how microbes cause disease and how hosts respond to this challenge.

Our mission is to understand infections by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and worms of two reasons: they present one of the most significant medical burdens on earth and the interaction between microbes and their host are an essential driver of evolution.

Science is Teamwork

Science is Teamwork

Our Institute brings together scientists from various disciplines – in this way, we want to find answers to the fundamental questions of infection biology.

Hence the scale of our research spans through the atomic, molecular, cellular, tissular, organismal, clinical and finally social level.

In the Heart of Berlin

In the Heart of Berlin

The Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology is located at the historical Campus of the Charité Clinic in Berlin.

We are sharing our building with the German Rheumatism Research Center and the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in the heart of Berlin—right between the main station and the government quarter.
 

News

A herd of sheep grazes in a steppe landscape near Arkaim
An ancient Yersinia pestis genome recovered from sheep sheds new light on a mysterious infectious disease that plagued prehistoric Eurasia for over 2,000 years.
Long Night of Science
On June 28, the Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology will open its doors to visitors for the “smartest night of the year.” Experience our research through lab tours, experiment stations, and lectures.
Reconstructing the messaging platforms of our cells
By reconstructing cellular signaling pathways, researchers explore how our immune system evolved and inspire potential immunotherapies.

Seminars / Lectures

Chiral morphogenesis

Stephan Grill
Oct 22, 2025 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Room: seminar room 1+2

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