At the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, scientists investigate the mechanisms of infectious diseases and their defence. We systematically develop the results of basic research towards medical application. The scientific questions we work on include: What makes bacteria or viruses pathogens? Why are some people particularly sensitive, while others are resistant to infections? How can we intervene in infection processes? How do we transfer our findings to human applications? To clarify such questions, we are studying pathogens that are medically relevant or that can be used as models for research into infections. Understanding these mechanisms will help to combat infectious diseases with new drugs and vaccines. Imprint: <https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/de/impressum>