The website[1] of the lead author, Andreas Peschel, lists funding at the bottom. Almost all projects are funded by the DFG. The DFG is an institution that funds

The website[1] of the lead author, Andreas Peschel, lists funding at the bottom. Almost all projects are funded by the DFG. The DFG is an institution that funds research and is itself funded by taxpayer money. So yes, this research has been paid for by the German public. However, it is common for universities to apply for patents. Revenue from patent licensing is then usually shared between the university and the researchers. [1]: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche-fakultaet/fachbereiche/interfakultaere-institute-und-zentren/imit/beteiligte-einheiten/infektionsbiologie.html http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/mathematisch-naturwi...