Structural Virology

Professor Thomas Krey’s research group aims to determine the structures of particular viral and cellular proteins that play a key role in the processes leading to infection. Consequently, the group is particularly focussed on the use of x-ray crystallography. Information regarding the structures of such proteins is critical to the targeted development of both vaccines and antiviral substances. In addition, through the comparison of these protein structures it is possible to reveal both the evolutionary family relationships and the similarities between viruses. This therefore enables the identification of the particular conserved structures which are common to various different viruses. These structures usually give an indication of the importance of specific proteins in viral replication cycles. For this reason, they are particularly significant for the development of vaccines or antiviral substances.