Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Our mission

Our mission

The focus of our work is the study and investigation of pathogens which are medically relevant or can be used as models for researching infection mechanisms.The center is supported by the federal government of Germany and the state of Lower Saxony. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research employs about 600 staff from more than 40 countries and has an annual operating budget of €47 million.

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Helmholtz Association

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Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

The scientists of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research study the mechanisms involved in infectious diseases and defenses against them: What makes bacteria or viruses turn into disease-causing pathogens? How can we intervene in the infection process?

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Latest News

20.07.09

Helferzelle bindet an Dendritische Zelle

The right messenger for a healthy immune response



Researchers from Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany, decipher special role of the messenger Beta-Interferon for immune responses.

Cells of the immune system communicate using molecular messengers. One group of these substances are interferons. During a virus infection, the immune system increases the production of interferons such as Beta-Interferon, thus alerting immune cells to combat the infection. Furthermore, Beta-interferon also has tumour fighting qualities and – used as a therapeutic against multiple sclerosis – is...

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30.06.09

Hoefle Vibrio

The tiny difference in the genes of bacteria



Researchers from Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Germany, develop new method for better diagnostic of diarrhea causing bacteria.

Every year, diarrhea causes around five million fatalities worldwide. Most people die due to pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, which were ingested into the gastro-intestinal tract through contaminated drinking water or food. Determining which bacterium is causing the illness in those cases is sometimes very complex. In cooperation with Chilean researchers, scientists from...

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09.06.09

T-Zelle

GARP makes the difference



Researchers develop key brake for immune cells in petri dish – hope for easier organ transplantation?

Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany and the Medical School Hannover, Germany (MHH) have succeeded in treating immune cells in a way that enables them to inhibit unwanted immune reactions such as organ rejection. Their results have now been published in the current issue of the scientific journal “Journal of Cellular and Molecular...

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02.06.09

The whole world of infection research



Helmholtz internet portal for researchers and journalists

The web site www.infection-research.de is being relaunched with a new look: it is the first internet portal worldwide on the subject of infection research. The Braunschweig Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) operates the web site which, in addition to an extensive job market for infection researchers, also offers eight further information areas. "The portal aims to offer scientists and...

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11.05.09

Thus the bile does not overflow



HZI-Scientists have elucidated which bacteria block artificial bile ducts

A consequence of the different cancers of the hepatobiliary system is blocked bile ducts. However, artificial catheters known as ‘stents’ can remediate this problem. Stents are medical implants which reopen narrowed bile ducts to allow the outflow of bile. However, bacteria colonize these catheters forming dense communities, so-called biofilms. Inside these biofilms, bacteria are not only...

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14.03.2010

Publications Search

Publications Search

Infection-Research Worldwide

Highlights of infection research at a glance more