Early virus-host interactions are an interplay of viral exploitation of cellular proteins, functions, and innate defence mechanisms. Our research aims at answering the following questions: Which mechanisms and specific patterns lead to the recognition of a viral infection? What does a virus do to evade this recognition? Which cellular structures resemble viruses? In which cells are viral infections actually recognized – the non-infected, or the infected ones? We are taking a closer look on the constant struggle between viruses and the immune system, with special emphasis on extracellular vesicles (EVs). In recent years, this new and highly interdisciplinary field has led to many surprising discoveries and shows a high potential for further scientific developments. Find out more about our research and our team on the next pages.