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Extracellular vesicles (green) and viral particles (red) competing for cellular receptors (black) and entry into cells (orange).
Human pathogenic emerging and re-emerging viruses are a continuous threat to human health. The Müller lab is interested in the transmission of emerging viruses and how they interact with their host. In general viruses are shed into various body fluids, however, only certain fluids enable viral spread between hosts. These various body fluids are not merely passive vectors, but contain extracellular vesicles that support or interfere with viral infections. The Müller lab is investigating the influence these vesicles have on viral infections and analyze the underlying mechanisms. Our central goal is to understand the contribution of extracellular vesicles to human immune defenses and thereby identify strategies to interfere with viral spread and disease.