Methods

Virology

Our group has containment level 2 and 3** laboratories and the institute further provides a BSL3+ laboratory. These diverse containments offer us the possibility to work with genetically modified organisms and viruses from different risk groups.We have experience in standard virology techniques and routinely use forward and reverse genetics. We have assays and tools to evaluate distinct steps of virus replication cycles and use a panel of recombinant reporter viruses allowing the monitoring of infection in time and space by fluorescence or luminescence.

Microscopy and image analysis

We benefit from the institute state-of-the-art microscopy core facility to develop fluorescence microscopy approaches to track viral infections. We have expertise in wide field and confocal microscopy (laser-scanning and spinning disc) and our S3** laboratory is equipped for fluorescent live cell imaging. We also develop quantification pipelines using open-source software (e.g. Fiji/ImageJ, CellProfiler) for unbiased microscopy image analysis (intensity quantification, object segmentation, etc.).

Other techniques

• Standard methods of molecular biology and biochemistry
• Cell biology
• Knockdown by RNA interference (siRNAs, shRNAs)
• CRISPR-Cas-mediated knockouts
• Quantitative real-time PCR
• Flow cytometry
• Protein-protein interactions
• Sedimentation gradients