The CMFI is one of more than 50 Clusters of Excellence funded by the German federal and state governments as part of the Excellence Initiative. We develop new strategies to control microbial mechanisms and fight infections. The surfaces of the human body host colonies of microorganisms, known as microbiomes. Along with bacteria which have a positive effect on human health, microbiomes contain potentially life-threatening pathogens. In the past, broad-spectrum antibiotics have often been used to