Department of Biochemistry

Cell death executor Gasdermin-D has both protective and detrimental functions
In a new study published in “Science Advances”, Benjamin Demarco and Kaiwen Chen from the lab of Prof. Petr Broz, uncover the physiological relevance of a new signaling axis connecting apoptosis signaling to the pyroptosis executor gasdermin-D.

Immunology Seminar Series
The Department of Biochemistry has the pleasure to host the Immunology Seminar Series. This Series will be online from October 30th until December 14th.

Lifetime achievement award: Gian-Paolo Dotto
Prof. Gian Paolo Dotto from the Department of Biochemistry has received the FBM lifetime achievement award for his work on squamous cell carcinomas whereby he demonstrated that the same signal pathways can convey both a tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing effect. Dotto’s discovery has opened up new treatment possibilities.

TLR7 Sensing by Neutrophils Is Critical for the Control of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
A new article in Cell Reports published by the group of Professor Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier describes that TLR7 sensing of the protozoan Leishmania parasite in neutrophils is essential for early parasite load regulation with major consequences on subsequent disease evolution, thus opening avenues for possible treatment strategies.

"To be or not to be"
Prof. Gian Paolo Dotto from the DB has published a new paper in the Science and Society section of EMBO reports. His paper discusses the second law of thermodynamics in the context of life’s biggest questions.