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Many applications—whether in medicine, biotechnology, or agriculture—require the ability to eliminate unwanted cells, since these can compromise health, reduce productivity, or interfere with desired biological processes. However, doing so without affecting other cells remains a significant challenge. A collaboration of the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg, Akribion Therapeutics in Zwingenberg, as well as the University of Utah and Utah State University in the US, has now resulted in a CRISPR-based tool that can target specific cells based on a recognized transcript, opening up numerous potential uses. The findings were published today in the journal Nature.

The bacterium Segatella copri is one of the most common inhabitants of the human gut. In their latest study, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have discovered that some strains of this bacterial species possess genetic bonus material that makes them more oxygen-tolerant. The presence of the molecular regulator OxyR is crucial for this. Using extensive data analyses, the HZI team discovered that strains of Segatella copri carrying OxyR are particularly prevalent in industrialized regions of the world. The researchers suspect that the presence of OxyR provides a selective advantage for the bacterium in these environments. Disruptions to the gut microbiome, such as those caused by antibiotics, can lead to temporary increases in oxygen levels in the gut. The scientists aim to determine the health effects of intestinal colonization by different strains of Segatella copri in further studies. The study was published in the journal “Cell Host and Microbe” today.

How does a mire function? Which animals and microorganisms live there? And what do they reveal about environmental change and health? Eighteen students in grades 9 and 10 at the Alexander von Humboldt Gymnasium in Greifswald are exploring these questions in this year’s CiFly citizen science project. The CiFly project is part of the “One Health Region Vorpommern” initiative and is supported within the “T!Raum – Transfer Spaces for the Future of Regions” program funded by the BMFTR.

According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccinations have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years. However, their development would not have been possible without the use of animal testing. On April 24, these two topics converge: This day marks both World Laboratory Animal Day and the start of the WHO’s World Immunization Week. At the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), researchers in the project ENDURIVAC are developing an innovative vaccine technology that could eliminate the need for boosters in the long term. In their research, they also use animal testing to assess the vaccine’s efficacy and safety.

Today, around 35 students in grades 5 through 9 visited the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig to gain insight into the work of a modern research institution. They had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting world of science across a total of seven different groups and departments.

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), Dr. Rolf-Dieter Jungk, visited the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig. Led by HZI Directors Prof. Josef Penninger and Christian Scherf, as well as Prof. Theresia Stradal, spokesperson for the HZI campus in Braunschweig, he gained a comprehensive insight into the center’s cutting-edge research. The visit focused on the junior research research groups of the BMFTR-funded MICROSTAR program as well as the HZI’s organoid platform.