13.01.2014

Targeting pathogens at atomic resolution by the most advanced radiation sources

Start-up for new Centre for Structural Systems Biology in Hamburg

At the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) on the DESY campus, biologists, physicists and physicians will in future work hand in hand to fight pathogens. After a two-year preparatory phase by a task force, the scientific committee consisting of one representative from each of the nine partner institutions took up work. In its constituent meeting on 10 January 2014, Dr. Matthias Wilmanns, Head of EMBL Hamburg, was appointed founding director. The former chairman of the task force, Professor Chris Meier from the University of Hamburg, was thanked for his outstanding work. Head of the administrative office is Dr. Ina Plettner.

View of the future CSSB building on the DESY campus (picture: hammeskrause architekten).

The goal of the interdisciplinary research centre with currently nine participating universities and research organisations is to understand the molecular interactions within living cells, with special focus on the investigation of pathogens. This requires the systematic analysis of the molecular building blocks, the architecture and the regulation of biological systems. For this aim, the CSSB scientists use a broad range of measuring techniques, including electron microscopy and the synchrotron radiation source PETRA III as a state-of-the-art X-ray radiation source. The latter provides a very high resolution down to atomic details. Moreover, the free-electron laser FLASH, also located on the DESY campus, and the X-ray laser European XFEL, currently under construction, will offer the possibility for the first time to observe every detail of the development of dynamic biological processes. This will help the scientists to understand the interaction of pathogens with their hosts in order to find targets for new medication, diagnostics and vaccines.

Dr. Matthias Wilmanns, newly appointed director of CSSB, emphasised the innovative approach of the research centre: “The foundation of CSSB offers the unique opportunity to optimally use for international top-level research the already established perfect infrastructures for synchrotron radiation and the free-electron laser in Hamburg. In a joint venture with all partners, we will investigate pathogens down to the smallest detail to better understand their paths of infection.”

“With CSSB, we pursue a unparalleled multidisciplinary approach: our unique super microscopes together with other powerful methods will help us to understand the molecular processes of infections and disease patterns; thus making possible the development of tailor-made agents to effectively combat them,” said Professor Helmut Dosch, Chairman of the DESY Board of Directors.

“We are convinced that at CSSB basic research in the field of structural biology will be substantially strengthened and that infection research, structural and systems biology will meld into a single unit in this interdisciplinary centre,” said Professor Iain Mattaj, EMBL Director General and EMBL representative in the CSSB scientific committee.

The CSSB research building located in close proximity to the PETRA III experimental hall on the DESY campus is currently under construction. As from 2016/17, it will unite under one roof the working groups of all university and non-university research institutions participating in CSSB. The new centre is funded with a total of 50 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the City of Hamburg and Lower Saxony.