Newsroom

Two petri dishes containing myxobacteria are held aloft, one in each hand

News

Most antibiotics used clinically are based on natural compounds produced by bacteria and other microorganisms. At the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), researchers are using soil-dwelling myxobacteria as a source of new active ingredients. They are able to discover new active compounds primarily in bacteria that have not yet been extensively studied. Through decades of work, a HIPS research team has significantly expanded the biological diversity of myxobacteria. They are now making these microorganisms and their genetic data available to the entire research community, as they provide the basis for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. The researchers published their findings in the journal Advanced Science.

12.08.2026

HIPS

News

At first glance, mucus sounds more unpleasant than essential. In fact, it forms an important protective layer on our mucous membranes: It transports dirt, bacteria, and viruses out of the body and makes it difficult for pathogens to penetrate our cells in the first place. Prof. Christian Sieben, head of the research group “Nano Infection Biology” at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), is studying this crucial moment in an infection in great detail. Using state-of-the-art microscopy, he observes individual virus particles and investigates how they interact with our cells. In this episode of InFact, he explains how respiratory viruses overcome our natural barriers and why influenza viruses in particular have significant pandemic potential.

23.07.2026

HZI Campus

A view inside a laboratory; two hands wearing blue gloves working with a pipette

News

Bacteria have spent decades evolving resistance to virtually every antibiotic we have thrown at them. To stay ahead, new drugs must hit targets that existing antibiotics have never touched. A research team at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has now developed a series of synthetic drug candidates that do exactly that: By blocking an essential molecular supply system, these molecules cut off the bacteria's essential vitamins supply and starve them to death. The team published its findings in two studies back to back in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

21.07.2026

HIPS

Macrophages under an electron microscope

News

Macrophages are considered the “scavenger cells” of the immune system, but some pathogens exploit these very cells as hiding places. Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg and Philipps-Universität Marburg have now discovered a mechanism that helps immune cells to balance their response to infection: a long non-coding ribonucleic acid called SAILR, which acts as an apoptosis regulator. The findings were published recently in the journal PNAS.

20.07.2026

HIRI

News

Prof. Hortense Slevogt, research group leader at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and lead senior physician at Hannover Medical School (MHH), has been appointed to the Commission on Anti-Infectives, Resistance and Therapy (ART) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The ART Commission is an independent expert panel at the RKI that develops recommendations on the rational use of anti-infectives based on current scientific evidence. Its goal is to ensure the effective use of anti-infectives while limiting the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens.

15.07.2026

HZI Campus

Photo of Leonard Knegendorf at an office workstation

News

Premature babies in the intensive care unit are particularly at risk of becoming infected with potentially pathogenic bacteria. A team of doctors in Hanover has now investigated which external factors play a role in this. They concluded that climatic conditions have an influence. The study was led and designed by Dr Leonard Knegendorf, a clinician-scientist at TWINCORE, the Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research. The findings were published in the scientific journal "Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control". TWINCORE is a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH).

13.07.2026

TWINCORE

HZI in the media

... zunehmen. Mit der Gründung des HIOH im Jahr 2021 als Standort des Braunschweiger Helmholtz-Zentrums für ...

31.08.2026

Management & Krankenhaus

... des neuen Forschungsgebäudes des Helmholtz-Instituts für One Health (HIOH) in Greifswald (Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald) gelegt

. ...

28.08.2026

Tagesschau

How Bacteria Develop Resistance to Antisense Antibiotics—and How Future Therapies Can Be Made Less Susceptible to It

28.08.2026

Bionity.COM

Wie man sich mit Mpox anstecken kann und warum sich Personen mit häufig wechselnden Sexpartnern impfen lassen sollten.

28.08.2026

Apotheken Umschau

Infection Research; the RESIST Cluster of Excellence; and the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg has

27.08.2026

Phys.org

... Arbeiten am Universitätsklinikum Köln und am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung startet nun die Entwicklung und GMP- ...

26.08.2026

healthcare-in-europe.com

Infos: Herpesviren – Eine große Familie Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung www.helmholtz-hzi.de/wissen/wissensportal/ ...

25.08.2026

SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz

An einer weiteren Station veranschaulicht das Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung, wie die Entwicklung neuer ...

25.08.2026

MSN Deutschland

Technologien“ im HUMAN-Projekt am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig . Im Mittelpunkt ihrer Arbeit steht ...

23.08.2026

Regional Heute

... Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover (MHH) und des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI). Dafür setzten die Forschenden sechs ...

19.08.2026

Pharmazeutische Zeitung

... Arbeiten am Universitätsklinikum Köln und am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung startet nun die Entwicklung und GMP- ...

19.08.2026

DeutschesGesundheitsPortal

available genomic resources. HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in collaboration with Saarland University.

14.08.2026

News Medical

Register now for the HZI newsletter

and stay up to date!

Email address *

We use rapidmail to send our newsletter. I agree that my data entered here will be transmitted to rapidmail. I have taken note of the HZI's privacy policy and have been informed of my rights.