Questions and AnswersProf. Dr. Jörg Hacker

How or why did you become involved in infection research, what fascinates you about this subject?
I studied biology in Halle and was fascinated in the seventies by the new techniques of molecular biology. One topic was the analysis of pathogenic microbes with the help of classical microbial genetics as well as with the help of gene technology. This is still a matter of fascination.

What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am particularly interested in the borderline between pathogenic and commensal microbes. It turns out that there is a “grey zone” and one must carefully distinguish beneficial from pathogenic microbes. This is a very fascinating topic.

What were the turning points in science, in career, in life that influenced your decisions?
I think in science the upcoming new technologies in molecular biology, the sequencing technology as well as the genomic approaches, were important. For me it was important as a student to work in a very good institute which was the institute of experimental epidemiology in Wernigerode. In addition, it was of wide influence that I met Werner Goebel, my supervisor in the early eighties.

What was a single most important moment of your career?
One of the important decisions in my career was that we in Würzburg decided to work on one particular strain which was able to cause urinary tract infections from different points of view. The decision was made by Werner Goebel and his group, I was a member of this group at that time.

What was your most important scientific discovery?
In our group in Würzburg we were interested in the molecular genetic basis of pathogenity and the variability of the microbial genome, including the uptake and excision of pathogenicity island. This was a very important part of our work.

What drives you and carries you on? What do you love about your work?
I think a scientist has to be interested in the subject working on. I like to do research with pathogenic microbes because they develop so interesting and sophisticated strategies and one has to work with them.

What influenced and impressed you and your life and therefore science?
I was always impressed by the hardworking scientists who made discoveries, such as Charles Darwin or Max Delbrück. Werner Goebel and his group in Würzburg were also very influential for myself.

Idols?
I already mentioned the two scientists, in addition I like the books of Uwe Johnson who was a fascinating German writer.

What would you recommend to someone starting out in science? What would be your advice for young scientists?
One should select a proper subject and it is important to work in a scientific team with high scientific expertise and with a creative atmosphere. For young scientists it is always good to work abroad. But one should also take into consideration that it could be good to come back to Germany.

What would have been your alternative plan (plan B) if science /your job had not worked out?
As a young pupil (but also nowadays) I was always interested in philosophy and theology. Therefore, I had in mind to study theology to become a protestant priest.

What are your dreams for the future?
I dream on the development of vaccines against the most important microbial pathogens, such as HIV, malaria or nosocomial pathogens.

What do you think is important and should be worked on in the future?
I think the development of vaccines as already mentioned is important. Furthermore, the interaction between pathogens and host and the question of host susceptibility will be of major importance in the future.

What do you do when you are not working?
When I am not working I like to have good conversations with my family or with friends. In addition, I like to read good books.

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