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CRISPR technologies are revolutionary genome-editing tools that rely on molecular scissors called Cas nucleases to cut DNA. While these scissors can be programmed to cut virtually any sequence, that target must be flanked by a special sequence called a PAM (Protospacer Adjacent Motif). The PAM sequence is up to six nucleotides in length and can vary widely between Cas nucleases. To allow all sites of the genome to be targeted with CRISPR technologies, there is an ongoing push to collect nucleases that cover all possible PAMs. In a current study published in Nucleic Acids Research, researchers from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg characterized technologically important Cas nucleases to determine how to expand the spectrum of target sequences. The HIRI is a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg.

Neutralizing antibodies are the interceptors of our immune system. They bind precisely to pathogens and prevent them from entering our cells. After an infection, the immune system needs about two weeks to produce mature antibodies. In severe cases of Covid-19, the body's immune reaction often comes too late for the patient. One option for acute treatment would therefore be to administer antibodies to the patients that are immediately effective. Recent results of the CORAT Consortia, especially from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in cooperation with the Technische Universität Braunschweig and the company YUMAB, have led to a breakthrough in the development of fully human antibodies for immune therapies.

The Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics unit (PK/PD unit) at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig investigates the potential of drug candidates against pathogens, using special testing procedures. If the candidates pass these stringent preclinical tests, they stand a chance of being shortlisted for further development towards clinical testing.

Currently, little is known about children and their susceptibility to the new coronavirus. It has been observed that young children have rarely presented with COVID-19 up to now. No specific investigations have been conducted as to how many children have already contracted the virus and overcome the infection without any remarkable symptoms. In a DZIF project, scientists now intend to investigate this with the help of “LoewenKIDS”.

Innovations based on proven active ingredients, new indications for established drugs – the principle of repurposing has often led to success in medicine. This is why it is also used against SARS-CoV-2: In order to quickly find a drug to treat COVID-19, this international research network is searching for substances that act against SARS-CoV-2 in the world's largest substance repurposing bank "ReFrame". The collection comprises around 14,000 approved drugs as well as active ingredients for which extensive safety data are already available with regard to their use in humans. Several laboratories in the USA, four in the UK and one each in China and Germany are involved in the search. "ReFrame" was established by Scripps Research, California, in 2018 with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.