In order to identify a foreign organism, the mammal immune system exploits the protein binding activity of antibodies. In dependence on the invader, highly specialized antibodies are secreted by suitable cells which are selected out of a large cell pool and induced to expand their population. The group's research aims at answering questions like: What are the mechanisms governing the selection of the most suitable cells, and how are the selected cells improved during the course of an acute immune response? What recognition properties must a set of antibodies possess to be able to locate any invading pathogen? We pursue an interdisciplinary approach combining mathematical modeling, data analysis and experimental work.

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