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Research Group Stephan Becker

The Becker lab studies replication, morphogenesis and pathogenesis of highly pathogenic viruses like Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) as well as of emerging Coronaviruses (CoV) like the Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Middle Est Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and the pandemic SARS-CoV2. In addition, Becker lab aims to expand the knowledge on virus host interactions, which is the basis for the development of specific antiviral targets.
Beside of experiments under BSL4 conditions using wild type and recombinant filoviruses we are using surrogate systems based on infectious-like particles (iVLPs) modeling virus infection under BSL1-2 conditions. In Becker lab combination of molecular and biochemical techniques as well as cell biological methods like conventional Immunofluorescence, enhanced imaging technologies like live cell immunofluorescence (also under BSL4 conditions), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), super-resolution imaging like dSTORM and electron microscopy (EM) are applied.
Becker lab is further involved in translational virus research like characterization of vaccine candidates in phase 1 clinical trials using immune monitoring techniques. The lab aims additionally to characterize the antiviral mechanisms of compounds known to block virus-host interactions.