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News Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research - Press Releases © Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschunghttps://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/feed/pressreleases-feeds/atom.xml2021-03-04T19:16:32+01:00Verantwortlicherinfo@helmholtz-hzi.detx_libfeedcreatorCoVerage analyses lineage dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants2021-03-04T11:34:00+01:002021-03-04T11:34:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/coverage-analyses-lineage-dynamics-of-sars-cov-2-variants/

The CoVerage tool analyses the lineage dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 strains, i.e. determines how successfully which virus strain spreads. The web resource uses input from the Gisaid genome database. Gisaid is an international initiative that aims to make research data rapidly available to the public. Scientists from all over the world contribute genome sequences of viruses such as H1N1, influenza or…NoCovid-Gruppe für deutlich mehr Corona-Tests2021-03-02T16:09:00+01:002021-03-02T16:09:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/nocovid-gruppe-fuer-deutlich-mehr-corona-tests0/

Die Wissenschaftler:innen der NoCovid-Gruppe, zu denen auch die HZI-Forscher:innen Prof. Melanie Brinkmann und Prof. Meyer-Hermann gehören, haben sich für umfangreiche Tests, eine schnellere Kontaktverfolgung und zügiges Impfen ausgesprochen. Nur dann seien Öffnungen möglich. Andernfalls drohten die mühsam erkämpften Erfolge der vergangenen Wochen durch Öffnungen innerhalb kürzester Zeit zunichte…‘Big data’ training network for T-cell researchers at the HZI2021-03-01T10:22:00+01:002021-03-01T10:22:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/big-data-ausbildungsnetzwerk-fuer-t-zell-forscherinnen-am-hzi0/

As part of the adaptive immune system, T cells are involved in the defence against pathogens. However, if they recognise healthy, self-structures instead of invading pathogens, autoimmune diseases can result. It is still insufficiently understood which factors are responsible for the dysregulation of the T cells. A new EU-funded programme for young researchers, coordinated by Prof. Jochen Hühn at…Forschungszentren der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft unterstützen die Gesundheitsämter bei der Einführung von SORMAS2021-02-25T10:23:00+01:002021-02-25T10:23:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/forschungszentren-der-helmholtz-gemeinschaft-unterstuetzen-die-gesundheitsaemter-bei-der-einfuehrung/

Zeit ist für Gesundheitsämter dieser Tage die wertvollste Ressource. Um Infektionsketten frühzeitig zu unterbrechen, ist das Management der Kontaktpersonen ein essenzieller Baustein. Das digitale Tool SORMAS hilft Gesundheitsämtern, wertvolle Zeit zu sparen. SORMAS ist ein führendes digitales System zur integrierten Epidemiebekämpfung, welches durch Förderung des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit…A precise measure of protective immunity2021-02-23T20:57:00+01:002021-02-23T20:57:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/ein-praeziser-massstab-fuer-schuetzende-immunitaet/

Around 71 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). One reason why no vaccine against the virus has been found to date is that there are numerous virus variants, some of which differ by more than 30 percent from each other. Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, TWINCORE and the Hannover Medical School (MHH) have now…Multiplexe Antikörpertests: essenzielle Helfer in der Pandemiebewältigung2021-02-18T11:00:00+01:002021-02-18T11:00:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/multiplexe-antikoerpertests-essentielle-helfer-im-kampf-gegen-das-corona-virus0-1/

Das NMI Naturwissenschaftliche und Medizinische Institut an der Universität Tübingen hat gemeinsam mit dem Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig einen Antikörpertest entwickelt, der parallel verschiedene Antikörper detektieren kann. Der Antikörpertest findet bereits Anwendung in diversen Studien und liefert wertvolle Daten zum Pandemiegeschehen, so zum Beispiel in der…Wissenschaftler:innen liefern Handlungsoptionen für die proaktive #NoCovid-Strategie2021-02-11T14:50:00+01:002021-02-11T14:50:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/wissenschaftlerinnen-liefern-handlungsoptionen-fuer-die-proaktive-nocovid-strategie0/

Die Wissenschaftler:innen der #NoCovid-Initiative, darunter auch Prof. Melanie Brinkmann und Prof. Michael Meyer-Hermann vom Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), haben Vorschläge für „Grüne Zonen“ unterbreitet, in denen die Beschränkungen gelockert werden können. Ziel ist es, das Leben während der Corona-Pandemie trotz der hochansteckenden neuen Varianten zu erleichtern. Die…Scientists Call for Rapid Reduction in Coronavirus Cases in Europe2021-01-28T13:48:00+01:002021-01-28T13:48:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/wissenschaftler-fordern-zuegige-senkung-der-corona-fallzahlen-in-europa0/

A group of scientists are calling for a pan-European coronavirus action plan. Given the high numbers of cases and the new variants, they say, greater efforts to contain the virus are required across the whole continent. Case numbers must be reduced as quickly as possible, as this has strong advantages for society and economy. According to the paper published in the British medical journal The…Extensive data resource for microbiome research2021-01-20T11:58:00+01:002021-01-20T11:58:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/umfangreiche-datenressource-fuer-die-mikrobiom-forschung/

A huge community of microorganisms lives on and in our body – the microbiota. It is often also referred to as the microbiome, although the term microbiome actually describes the genetic information of the microbiota. Microbiome research is a relatively young field of research. Many fundamental questions are still open, and the search for possible therapeutic approaches is still in its infancy.…Molecular weapon with built-in delivery device2021-01-07T12:00:00+01:002021-01-07T12:00:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/molekulare-waffe-mit-eingebauter-liefervorrichtung/

Pathogenic bacteria are armed with a large arsenal of molecular weapons that help them infect their hosts. These virulence factors enable the bacteria to gain access to nutrients, to establish a niche for survival or simply to disable the immune system. Toxins are virulence factors that bacteria produce to damage their host. To do this, the toxins often have to travel long ways: first leaving the…A common European strategy against COVID-192020-12-22T09:35:00+01:002020-12-22T09:35:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/eine-gemeinsame-europaeische-strategie-gegen-covid-19/

Currently, high numbers of infections with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are being recorded in many European countries. This leads to increased numbers of deaths and is a burden for society, health systems and the economy. An international initiative of scientists is calling for a European strategy to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases quickly and sustainably. The statement was written by several…Corona: How the virus interacts with cells2020-12-21T14:57:00+01:002020-12-21T14:57:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/corona-wie-das-virus-mit-zellen-interagiert/

SARS-CoV-2 infections pose a global threat to human health and a formidable research challenge. One of the most urgent tasks is to gain a detailed understanding of the molecular interactions between the virus and the cells it infects. It must also be clarified, whether these interactions favour the multiplication of the virus or - on the contrary - activate defence mechanisms. In order to…Leibniz Prize 2021 for Rolf Müller2020-12-10T17:12:00+01:002020-12-10T17:12:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/leibniz-preis-fuer-rolf-mueller0/

Prof Rolf Müller, Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), has been awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize 2021 by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for his outstanding research achievements. The Leibniz Prize is the most highly endowed award regularly presented to scientists in Germany. The HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for…Federal government decides on million-euro funding for HIPS2020-12-01T22:11:00+01:002020-12-01T22:11:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/bund-beschliesst-millionenfoerderung-fuer-das-hips/

Der Haushaltsausschuss des Bundes hat dem Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) Förderung in Höhe von 47 Millionen Euro für den weiteren Ausbau des Instituts zugesichert. Zusammen mit Mitteln aus dem Landeshaushalt des Saarlandes erhält das HIPS bis 2025 somit eine Gesamtsumme von 70 Millionen Euro. Geplant sind ein Erweiterungsbau und weitere Forschungsgruppen mit…Funding for the development of an inhibitor against hospital germs2020-12-01T10:00:00+01:002020-12-01T10:00:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/foerderung-fuer-die-entwicklung-eines-hemmstoffes-gegen-krankenhauskeim/

Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia is the most frequent nosocomial infection. It is mostly caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which in many cases is already resistant to commonly used antibiotics and is therefore difficult to treat. A team from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in cooperation with the Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a spin-off of Max Planck…Important step in fighting resistant bacteria2020-12-01T10:00:00+01:002020-12-01T10:00:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/wichtiger-schritt-im-kampf-gegen-krankenhauskeim/

Its metabolism and the structure of its cellular membrane render the hospital germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant against several antibiotics. P. aeruginosa is responsible for around ten percent of all hospital infections, making it one of the most common multi-resistant germs. The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) now made an important step in the fight against…Two HZI scientists honoured as “Highly-cited researchers”2020-11-30T13:50:00+01:002020-11-30T13:50:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/zwei-hzi-forscher-als-highly-cited-researchers-ausgezeichnet/

The annual list of “Highly-cited researchers” identifies scientists who have demonstrated a significant impact in their chosen field over the last ten years through the publication of several highly-cited papers. This year, the Braunschweig Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has two researchers on the list: bioinformatician Prof Alice McHardy and biochemist Prof Jörg Vogel. The ranking…Coinfection: More than the sum of its parts2020-11-18T15:38:00+01:002020-11-18T15:38:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/ko-infektion-die-summe-ist-mehr-als-ihre-teile/

Infections with two pathogens pose a serious threat in the clinics. Researchers from Würzburg and Jena have developed a technique that provides new insights into this process and can be used as an early warning system. The research results have now been published in the journal Cell Reports.Jörg Vogel announced as new president of the Academy of Microbiology2020-11-17T12:45:00+01:002020-11-17T12:45:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/professor-joerg-vogel-wird-neuer-praesident-der-europaeischen-akademie-fuer-mikrobiologie/

Professor Jörg Vogel (Würzburg, Germany) has been announced as the President of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) from 1 January 2021. Prof Vogel will take over from Prof Philippe Sansonetti, the former President of the Academy since 2012. He thanked and acknowledged his predecessor and stated his intent to “continue to promote microbiology as a field of study and recognize excellence…Two murine restriction factors limiting hepatitis C infection described2020-11-05T13:40:00+01:002020-11-05T13:40:00+01:00https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de:443/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/zwei-restriktionsfaktoren-verhindern-hepatitis-c-infektion-in-maeusen0/

Scientists at TWINCORE have succeeded in identifying two factors that protect liver cells of mice from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These are Cd302, a lectin, and Cr1l, a complement receptor-like protein. The research outlined in this study lays the foundation for the future development of a mouse model for HCV vaccine research. The results are published in the journal Science…