Research

Funding: The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSP), 1.106.000 EUR

Project Details:
Insect cell membranes differ from mammalian membranes by deformability, lipid content and distribution. Enveloped insect-borne viruses require intimate interactions with cellular
membranes to enter cells, replicate their genomes in cells and bud from cells. Despite fundamental biophysical differences between insect and mammalian membranes, viruses can productively infect cells from both phyla. Decades of studies on insect-borne viruses have not addressed the machinery of insect membrane deformation and its exploitation by viruses. Working at the interface of insect genetics, biophysics and infection biology, our newly formed team has assembled innovative technologies to break through this barrier in the field. Through the combined expertise of the PIs, we will: 1. Employ gene editing libraries in insect cells to identify host factors steering virus - membrane interactions; 2. Image membrane deformation at high resolution; 3. Assess the impact of membrane deformation on permissiveness to insectborne viruses. These studies will provide insight into mechanisms driving insect membrane shape and revolutionize our understanding of virus adaptation across fundamentally different
species.

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Nicholas Ariotti, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australia

Dr. Norbert Perrimon, Harvard Medical School, USA

Funding: Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung , 350.135 EUR

Project Details:
After unexpected problems occurred during the data collection in the field, an objectively evaluable data basis will be created, aming at evaluation of the acoustic deterrence system. In addition to the working task, further analyses will be carried out to assess the management measures developed and implemented to date outside the public swimming area, which include, for example, the previously established protection zones or the panoramic path. In order to ensure an effective management, regular evaluation and possible optimization is essential. The counting data collected on Helgoland by Jordsand / Dünen-Ranger represents an extremely important data basis for this. Based on an extremely important data basis for this juvenils, a corresponding evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures will be carried out.
In order to investigate the temporal and spatial use of areas by grey seals in the North Sea in more detail and also to create the data basis for a tailor made management, individual grey seals will be captured on Helgoland and tagged with telemetry devices. Vocalizations of grey seals associated with mating will be recorded underwater to identify areas used for mating. In this context, a comprehensive health monitoring of grey seals will also be conducted to update knowledge on the zoonotic potential of pathogens present in grey seals for residents and tourists on Heligoland.
Additional management needs have arisen in recent years regarding the locations of grey seal births. As it repeatedly happened that single pups were born on the main island, beaches had to be closed for residents and tourists during the pupping season. At the same time, these beaches are the only places on Helgoland where dogs can run free. Thus, there is a great interest in directing the births of grey seals away from the main island, if nature conservation compatibility can be guaranteed in the process. This project will continue to investigate the extent to which the main island is already relevant during mating season.
The following questions will be addressed in the targeted project:

1) Can a seal exclusive zone be created by using an acoustic fence in the swimming area of the Helgoland dune?
2) How effective are the applied management measures on Helgoland and how can they be further optimized?
3) Which areas are used by grey seals and what are their functions? Which zoonotic pathogens do living grey seals carry on Helgoland and what danger do they pose to humans?
4) Are there possibilities to direct the locations of grey seal births?

The work packages represent the planned work required to answer the respective questions.

1) Sound exposure of grey seals in the swimming area of the Helgoland Dune.
2) Evaluation of the collected daily count data
3) Acoustic monitoring, health monitoring, and tagging of grey seals at Helgoland Dune.
4) Development of tailor made methods to keep away grey seals from main island beaches during the pupping season.

Funding: UBA/BFG, 350.135 EUR

Project Details:
In the European Union, biocides are officially approved following the EU Biocide regulation No. 528/2012. So far, the following eight anticoagulants were assessed and approved for rodenticide use in the EU: Warfarin, Chlorophacinone, Coumatetralyl, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, Brodifacoum, Difethialone and Flocoumafen. The first three active ingredients belong to the first-generation anticoagulants, whereas the last five belong tot he second-generation anticoagulants. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) were considered persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT- or vPvB ingredients) and thus only approved for pest control under very strict regulations, due to the lack of alternative ingredients.

Taking into account the results of previous research projects to investigate the contamination of ARs in fish and the effects of Ars on the aquatic environment, this project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current risk mitigation measures to reduce contamination of water bodies with Ars by using a biota monitoring approach. A nationwide, strategic monitoring for otters (Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra) will be initiated to evaluate current risk mitigation and to determine relevant exposition for both aquatic and semi-aquatic top predators. In addition, the transfer of active ingredients alongside the aquatic food chain and the metabolism of Ars in fish will be investigated.

The outcome of the project with regards to environmental contamination of aquatic habitats with Ars and the effectiveness of current risk mitigation measures shall allow the funding agency to implement scientifically based decisions in the biocide registration. Also, former decisions might be revised or substantially improved.

Funding: MWK Niedersachsen, 184.200 EUR

Project Details:
Die Kryokonservierung von ex vivo und in vitro Kultursystemen des Respirationstraktes verschiedener Spezies ist eine bislang wenig erforschte Methode, welche den Nutzen dieser Modelle als Ersatz und Ergänzung von Tierversuchen aber deutlich steigern könnte. Daher sollen im vorliegenden Teilprojekt primäre Zell- und Gewebekulturen wie Nasenschleimhaut-Explantate, Air-Liquid Interface Kulturen aus trachealen Epithelzellen und Lungenpräzisionsschnitte von ausgewählten Spezies wie Frettchen, Hund, Maus und Schwein mittels verschiedener Gefriermedien kryokonserviert und nach dem Auftauen morphologisch, funktionell sowie anhand einer Transkriptomanalyse untersucht und mit nicht kryokonservierten Kulturen verglichen werden. Insbesondere die Zilienmorphologie und funktionalität der Kultursysteme soll dabei im Mittelpunkt stehen und durch softwaregestützte Videoanalysen näher charakterisiert werden. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse sowie die generierten Kulturen sollen Projektpartnern des Verbundes und darüber hinaus anderen Arbeitsgruppen über die gesamte Förderperiode zur Verfügung stehen.

Cooperation Partners:

Forschungskooperation mit der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover: "Mikro-Replace-Systeme"

Funding: VolkswagenStiftung, 700.000 EUR

Project Details:
Avian influenza in humans is associated with pneumonia, inflammation and high case fatality rates. We identified CYP19A1 as a key gene involved in sex-specific lung inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters and humans. CYP19A encodes for the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone-to-estradiol leading to the activation of various estrogen-regulated pathways associated with lung inflammation. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters with letrozole, a clinically approved CYP19A1 aromatase inhibitor, recovered impaired lung function and overall lung health in males. We further found that also avian H7N9 influenza virus infection mediates massive upregulation of CYP19A1 in the lung of infected animals. Thus, we hypothesize that estrogen-regulated activation of inflammatory pathways in the lung play a crucial role in severe viral disease outcome. Therefore, in this proposal, we will systemically evaluate the impact of compounds that inhibit the synthesis of estrogens (using aromatase inhibitors) or interfere with estrogen-regulated down-stream pathways (using estrogen antagonists, SERMs, SERDs) against avian influenza in the hamster model. Obtained data will provide new insights into estrogen-mediated inflammatory pathways upon infection with respiratory viruses. Moreover, identification of common pathways might result in overarching drug targets to treat inflammatory lung diseases in general.

Cooperation Partners:

Evotec

Funding: Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz S-H (LKN), 42.025 EUR

Project Details:
Harbor porpoises are representatives of the top mammalian predators in the North Sea and Wadden Sea. With the amendment of the National Park Act in 1999, part of the national park was explicitly dedicated to the protection of harbor porpoises, as a high density of mother-calf groups was found there. As part of the reorganization of the Federal-Länder Marine Programme (BLMP), a programme for the joint monitoring of marine mammals was agreed in January 2011, which meets the requirements of monitoring in accordance with the relevant European directives and international conventions. The Schleswig-Holstein National Park Administration (NPV) within the Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation (LKN) has the task of organizing, implementing and financing the acoustic monitoring of harbour porpoises in this programme. The acoustic surveys for the NPV are carried out by the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) as part of the joint marine mammal monitoring program under the BLMP. For this purpose, measuring stations are operated at five defined locations in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea (Lister Tief, Westerland, Rochelsteert, Meldorfer Bucht and Outer Elbe). The monitoring stations are equipped with click detectors (C-PODs), which record the echolocation activity of harbor porpoises. The C-PODs are serviced and read out at regular intervals. The data obtained in this way is evaluated against the background of the optimization of the acoustic monitoring as well as necessary extensions for a permanent operation of the measuring stations. The data from this long-term study will provide information on the possible rhythm and tidal dependency of the harbor porpoise detections throughout the day and over the course of a year.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 400.880 EUR

Project Details:
The future region "TiPP" has the aim of optimising transparency and traceability in a regionally established value chain pig via digital strategies from farm to fork. The focus of the practical trials is the use of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) with its concepts and technologies (DLT, blockchain), which is completely unexplored in farm animals. For testing and the later derivation of transparency indices for consumers, animal, farm and process data are collected along the entire pig value chain in sub-projects that address current transparency-relevant areas such as data management, application of sensors, animal health, animal welfare, climate efficiency, sustainability and consumer behaviour.

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

OFFIS e.V.

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Funding: Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), 3.000.000 EUR

Project Details:
In a wide range of injuries and medical procedures, erythrocytes or platelets from voluntary donors must be transfused into patients. When donated blood arrives at a processing center, erythrocytes are separated from platelets. Erythrocytes can be stored in protective solutions at 4 °C for up to four weeks as packed red blood cell units, whereas platelets are sensitive to cold and must be stored at room temperature. Because of this relatively high storage temperature, platelet concentrates must be discarded after 5-7 days. Under normal circumstances, blood banks in high-income countries are able to supply local hospitals very well with sufficient quantities of blood products (erythrocytes and platelets). However, in remote regions or war zones, the necessary infrastructure for a properly functioning blood bank is generally lacking, and blood transfusions are often performed using untested blood obtained from local donors. Military blood services worldwide have repeatedly identified the storage of blood products as a top priority. For long-term storage, cryopreservation can be used. However, the use of cryopreserved blood units requires a time-consuming washing process to carefully remove toxic cryoprotectants prior to transfusion. In addition, cryopreservation requires expensive, space- and energy-intensive equipment with specialized freezing systems to carefully maintain low temperatures during storage and transport in order to preserve the biological activity of the cells. Storing erythrocytes or platelets in a dried state offers the possibility of preserving the cells for long periods under conditions that are far easier to maintain (i.e., room temperature), thereby enabling transport to locations with immediate need. Here, we propose developing methods for the dry preservation of erythrocyte and platelet transfusion units that can be used directly after a simple rehydration step, for example in a war zone or military hospital.

Cooperation Partners:

Rainer Blasczyk, Constanca Figueiredo - Hannover Medical School

Funding: EU, 736.000 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out on DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
The dietary shift has been identified as a major key to reducing the footprint of the food system. The objective of GIANT LEAPS is to deliver strategic innovations, methodologies, and open-access data sets to speed up this dietary shift in line with the Farm-to-Fork strategy and contribute to the Green Deal target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. DIL is leading the development of the open cloud data platform for the project to facilitate interoperability of data generated within the project and the existing knowledge in the protein food production domain. Development of inventory data collection protocol and facilitating data gathering for sustainability assessments is another sub-task of DIL aligned with the cloud data platform.

Cooperation Partners:

Stichting Wageningen Research,

University Of Surrey,

Unilever U.K. Central Resources Limited

The University Of Manchester

Agt Food And Ingredients

Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zuerich

Danone Global Research & Innovation Center Bv

Rukov Jakob Lewin

Roquette Freres Sa

Deutscher Allergie- Und Asthmabund E.V.

Fc Cv

Capacity Development In Nutrition Research-Capnutra

Napiferyn Biotech Sp Zoo

Mosa Meat Bv

Verhagen Franciscus

Europa Media Szolgaltato Non Profitkozhasznu Kft,

Associacao Oceano Verde Laboratorio Colaborativo Para O

Desenvolvimento De Tecnologias E Produtos Verdes Do Oceano,

Solar Foods Oy

Viva Maris Gmbh

Foodcompanions Bv

Stichting Effost

Iris Technology Solutions, Sociedad Limitada

Fundacion Azti - Azti Fundazioa

Medical University Sofia,

Institut National Des Sciences Et Industries Du Vivant Et De

L'environnement - Agroparistech,

Institut National De Recherche Pour L'agriculture,

L'alimentation Et L'environnement,

Teagasc - Agriculture And Food Development Authority

Wageningen University

Luonnonvarakeskus

Universita Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii

Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy

University College Cork - National University Of Ireland, Cork

Matis Ohf

Institut De Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries

Funding: Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr , 730.000 EUR

Project Details:
Local hospitals are generally very well supplied with sufficient quantities of erythrocytes and platelets via blood banks. However, in remote areas or war zones, the necessary infrastructure is often lacking and blood transfusions are often carried out using untested blood donations. In order to improve the storage of blood products for such situations, we are investigating the preservation of blood products through cryopreservation and lyophilization as part of the Bundeswehr's Hemoforce project.