Our research interests

The viral infectious cycle begins and ends with cell surface interactions, from finding the target cell for infection to the escape of viral progeny. These interactions are complex dynamic processes requiring a series of fine-tuned and well-timed biomolecular recognition events. Those play an essential role in modulating the multitude of physiological processes occurring at the cell surface. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie how viruses interact with the cell surface is essential for the design of antiviral therapies. To elucidate these mechanisms, Marta Bally´s group adopts a multidisciplinary approach: We combine traditional approaches from molecular biology, cell biology and virology, with biophysical investigations of virus-membrane interactions. These include interaction studies using in vitro cell surface mimics of varying complexity as well as single particle tracking with live cell microscopy. With these approaches, we study the mechanisms modulating attachment, detachment, and diffusion of viruses on cell-surface carbohydrates.

Our lab

The research group of Marta Bally is part of the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Umeå University. Within the department, we have access to imaging and biosensing platforms as well as to fully equipped cell, virus and biochemistry labs with BSL-2 certification. We also have access to a BSL-3 lab for virus research. In addition, Umeå University offers great research facilities such as the Biochemical Imaging Centre Umeå (BICU) and the Umeå Core Facility for Electron Microscopy (UCEM), a national center for electron microscopy. The interdisciplinary and collaborative atmosphere is further nourished by our affiliation to the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at Umeå University (WCMM), of which we are proud to be a part.

Our group is diverse and very international. The different scientific backgrounds result in a fostering environment for fruitful discussions and exciting projects that can be addressed from various angles. The fun poster below illustrates our group values and diversity in research methods, check it out!

Bally Lab in the Spotlight

Here you can find a collection of articles where our lab members are in the spotlight.