Our researchers are fighting the coronavirus pandemic with innovative approaches. With your donation you can support them in developing drugs and vaccines against the virus or in deciphering the mechanisms of disease development and progression. Here you can find out all about donation opportunities.
Learn more about how the HZI, with its translational focus, will help to facilitate a faster and more targeted approach when it comes to fighting and preventing existing, emerging or recurring infectious diseases.
Here you can find out more about the scientific results of the HZI in the research topics ”Bacterial and Viral Pathogens”, “Immune Response and Interventions” and “Anti-Infectives”.
Around 900 employees in research, administration and infrastructure, and about 220 visiting scientists from 40 different countries are employed at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. To ensure top quality research we need top quality employees. Your creativity and innovative capabilities are the basis for the long-term success of our work. That's why we undertake a great deal to attract the best people to us. Learn more about this.
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The coronaviruses are a family of viruses that includes a series of very different pathogens. These viruses usually infect mammals, rodents, and birds, but only few coronaviruses adapted to humans. They did this with great success: About one third of all typical "common colds" and some cases of diarrhoea as well are caused by these RNA Viruses, which are the largest of their kind. We have compiled more information about the coronaviruses for you.
With the pathogen SARS-CoV-2, a novel virus that can cause respiratory diseases and pneumonia has been spreading worldwide since the end of 2019. Here we will keep you informed about current developments in research and provide answers to the most important questions.
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2022-05-12
In view of the increasing threat by antibiotic resistances, diseases should not be treated with antibiotics on suspicion. Antibiotic stewardship therefore requires prior verification that a bacterial infection is indeed present. However, microbiological methods, in which the pathogens are cultivated on growth media, take time and are often not successful if patients have already…
2022-05-10
In May 2017, the world's first institution combining research on ribonucleic acids (RNA) with infection biology was founded in Würzburg: the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI). Since then, the still young HIRI has gained a global reputation in basic RNA research and as a technological pioneer. The HIRI can already claim considerable renown: In 2017, for…
2022-04-26
Contact between humans and animals is becoming increasingly closer. This is due to the growing world population, the ever deeper intrusion of humans into natural habitats, the hunting of wildlife, and intensive livestock farming and agriculture. Combined with globalisation, climate change and the increased mobility of people, these are the main causes of the outbreak and rapid…
2022-03-29
Emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance pose threats to global health. However, commensal microorganisms that colonize the healthy human gut may offer protection against infections. In his project “GUT-CHECK”, Alexander Westermann investigates how the intestinal microbiota could be used to combat diseases. The group leader at the HIRI, a joint venture of the Helmholtz…
2022-03-28
Key stages in the life cycle of a virus can represent attractive targets for drugs and therapies. Therefore, basic research is important to understand and impact the underlying molecular processes. A distinguishing feature of the HIV-1 variant is that it contains two copies of its viral genome. During viral replication two genomes are brought together in a process known as…
