Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
The scientists of the Helmholtz Centre 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?
Latest News
17.08.10
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research mourns Scientific Director
Professor Jürgen Wehland dies unexpectedly
Braunschweig, August 18, 2010 – The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany is mourning the loss of its Scientific Director, Professor Jürgen Wehland, PhD. On August 16, 2010, Jürgen Wehland died unexpectedly during a vacation in Sweden. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” says Ulf Richter, Administrative Director of the HZI. “His death...
05.07.10
A new opportunity for hepatitis C research
Scientists at TWINCORE develop new model approaches for HCV research.
The hepatitis C virus is highly specialised. We humans are its natural hosts. The only other living organisms that could be infected with the hepatitis C virus in the lab are chimpanzees. Nevertheless it is – from the viewpoint of the virus – highly successful: around 170 million people are chronically infected with the virus. And with the chronic infection the risk of developing liver cancer...
07.06.10
The right response to every pathogen
Researchers from Helmholtz-Centre in Braunschweig, Germany, decipher how mast cells set immune defence on the right track.
In the event of an infection, the immune system releases messenger substances. These molecules can either activate immune cells to defeat invading pathogens, or inhibit them to prevent an excessive immune reaction. For this, the immune system has to decide very quickly what mixture of activating and inhibiting messenger molecules leads to a successful defence. Researchers from the...
25.05.10
New pathway to cheap Insulin
Researchers from Helmholtz Centre in Braunschweig, Germany publish new and more efficient method to manufacture insulin.
More than eight million diabetics live in Germany. Diabetes is not restricted to our prosperous society and the highest growth rates often occur in countries with aspiring economies such as in Asia. Worldwide, more than 285 million people suffer from this illness; with 50 million diabetics, India is the country with the most people affected by this disease. In Europe, Germany shows the highest...
14.05.10
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research receives project funding from the Bill und Melinda Gates Foundation
Innovative nanoparticles release vaccine through perspiration
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has received a grant through the current round of the funding programme “Grand Challenges Explorations” of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme is supporting a global health project for development of nanoparticles that release the vaccine active ingredients through the skin upon contact with perspiration. The Braunschweig...
