Research

Project Details:
A vocal repertoire contains a species-specific list of vocalizations, which are produced by the animals. These lists build the methodological and theoretical basis for a number of research questions of different disciplines. Nevertheless, there is no consensus how to establish a vocal repertoire or how to define call types. In the majority of studies, call types were established by visual classification, using spectrograms, which was supported by statistical analysis based on the measured acoustic features of a vocalization. In recent publications, more objective mathematically approaches such as supervised or unsupervised clustering algorithm were established. However, also these algorithm often require a pre-screening of the observer either because a number of expected clusters has to be determined or by the fact that the clustering result has to be proofed for their biological plausibility. Both methods can lead to an overestimation of call types especially in species with very variable vocalizations or graded call types. Thus, an acoustic variation alone is not sufficient to reflect a behavioural relevance. This also requires a context-specificity and the ability of the brain to perceive and process the acoustic variation. In this project, we aim to establish the vocal repertoires by combining the mathematical classification of the vocalizations with the behavioural contexts in which the calls were produced as well as the physical hearing abilities (e.g., hearing range, time- and frequency resolution) of the given species. We use this approach for two small-bodied mammalian species: the Mongolian gerbil, an important animal model for human hearing, and the Etruscan shrew, suggested to be a promising model for hearing in basal mammals due to its small eardrum, basal ossicles, and simple and thin cortex.

Results:

Langehennig-Peristenidou A, Felmy F, Scheumann M (2024). Graded calls of the smallest terrestrial mammal, the Etruscan shrew, living in a closed habitat. iScience, 27(12), 111297. DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111297

 

Silberstein Y, Büntge J, Felmy F, Scheumann M (2024). Context or arousal? Function of drumming in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Frontiers in Zoology, 21(1), 22. DOI:10.1186/s12983-024-00542-2

 

Silberstein Y, Felmy F, Scheumann M (2023). Encoding of arousal and physical characteristics in audible and ultrasonic vocalizations of Mongolian gerbil pups testing common rules for mammals. Animals (Basel), 13(16), 2553. DOI:10.3390/ani13162553

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. A. Kral, VIANNA, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde

Dr. Wiebke Konerding, VIANNA, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde

Project Details:
Etruscan shrews need to constantly hunt to meet their energy requirements; because of their small body size, their relative energy consumption is very large. To efficiently hunt in close range, these animals rely especially on tactile sensory cues. However, for long-range detection of prey these animals likely use their well-developed hearing. Due to their small body and head size, these animals are expected to hear in frqeuncy range above 5 kHz and therefore are an ideal model system to investigate high frequency hearing and adaptations to miniaturization of mammalian neuronal circuits. We attempt to describe their auditory brainstem strucutes by applying structural and functional markers. After the initial anatomical characterization we will use electrophysiological techniques to comparatively study the properties of adutiory brainstem neurons. Thereby we will focus on biophysical and synaptic size adaptations within conserved neuronal circuits.

Funding: Europäische Union, Europäischer Landwirtschaftsfonds für die Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums - ELER, 179.500 EUR

Project Details:
Abstract:
The consequences of climate change are reflected in rising temperatures and, at the same time, more frequent extreme weather conditions. This has direct consequences for agriculture. Long-term high temperatures not only put a strain on people, but also on farm animals. Against the background of the predicted longer periods of heat in the coming summers, an adapted climate management for all barn and husbandry types is one of the central adaptation tasks in the course of climate change.
At the same time, farms face the challenge of reducing ammonia emissions. This not only aims at improving the nitrogen utilization and thus at resource-saving and efficient fertilization, but also in particular at the pollution of the environment through N-deposits from the air (over-fertilization and acidification) and human health through secondary dusts that accumulate can form from ammonia.
In addition, the responsibility of the animal owner for the well-being of his animals is at the center of the social discourse on the future of the agricultural and food industry. In animal and barn management, care must be taken to ensure that optimal husbandry and feeding conditions prevail in order to prevent diseases.
In order to meet these challenges at the same time, the aim of "Mee(h)r im Stall" is to test an integrative climate system that reduces the challenges and fields of action outlined for agricultural operations
1. Of temperature peaks in the course of climate change in livestock stalls
2. Ammonia levels in the stable air
3. Fine dust levels in the stable room and
4. the germ pressure
equally and successfully addressed via an air conditioning application in poultry fattening houses.

So far, there has been no system in livestock husbandry that takes all of the challenges outlined into account at the same time. In "Mee(h)r im Stall" an integrative air conditioning system is used, which connects two technical systems that are already used effectively in other economic contexts (e.g. slaughter, food processing, beverage and pharmaceutical industry, hospital) by means of "intelligent" switching and control technology and thus addresses the four outlined fields of action for poultry farmers in a needs-oriented manner and at the same time focuses on the working conditions for workers in the barn.
On the one hand, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) nebulization system is used. To date, H2O2 nebulization has mainly been used for disinfection purposes. An ionization process is also used to simultaneously optimize the air quality for animals and people in the barn. The functional principle is very simple: negative and positive ions are generated by the so-called bipolar ionization. These ions convert the oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxides, peroxides and hydroxyls. These electrically charged ions have the property of binding to microparticles in the air and thus clean the air of dust and harmful substances such as mold, viruses, bacteria and allergens. Regardless of the processes mentioned above, one has the subjective feeling of perceiving a sea breeze in the barn. More sea in the stable!

Link:
https://www.uni-vechta.de/meehr-im-stall

Cooperation Partners:

Trafo:agrar

AKE ZentriJet GmbH

Geflügelbetriebe Mahlstedt und Kühter

Project Details:
Cooperation strengthens cohesion between animals and is thus a decisive factor for social systems. The present project aims to investigate how individualised relationships - reflected in different types, and amounts, of socio-positive interactions between dyads - shape the social system in a bat model, Carollia perspicillata. A first study will disclose the effects of the interacting individuals, and sex, on cooperative behaviours among bats roosting in stable groups. A second study serves to pinpoint the effect of familiarity on cooperation, using allogrooming and food begging/sharing as paradigms in a series of behavioural experiments. Differences in type, frequency, and duration of interactions, and in the concomitant vocal communication, are expected for experiments with unfamiliar individuals versus those with bats from a given roosting group. The results will contribute to a deeper understanding of how cooperation between individuals may have driven the evolution of bat sociality.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Gerald Kerth,, Zoology and Nature conservation, Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Greifswald

Project Details:
Neurons in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) are relevant for binaural processing especially during reverberations. Their basic biophysical and synaptic properties have been documented, but are not understood on the cellular and molecular level. It remains so far unclear what voltage gated ion channels (VGIC) underly their functional specifications and how synaptic inputs are modulated. One specific question that will be answered his how different VGIC (potassium and sodium channels) interact to allow these neurons to generate high firing frequencies at high temporal precision. This biophysical phenotype indicates that these features are differently solved compared to other auditory brainstem neurons with similar tasks. Thus, this project aims to understand the moleculare organisaiton of the postsynaptic integration and spike generation mechanism. Since, the GABAergic DNLL neurons are reziprocally connected substantial GABA is liberated onto each neuron. GABA not only leads to fast inhibitory singalling but also is well-documented to generally be an important neuromodulator in the auditory brainstem. Therefore, the action of GABA mediated neuromodulation will be investigated by characterizing its effect on synaptic inputs and VGIC.

Results:

Javadova A, Felmy F.: GABAB receptor-mediated modulation in the developing dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. European Journal of Neuroscience (2024) Jan 5. doi: 10.1111/ejn.16246.

Funding: DFG, 350.510 EUR

Project Details:
In mammals, brain and neuron size enlarges with increasing head size. Inevitably, an increase in neuron size results in an increased membrane capacitance. To achieve size-independent synaptic integration and, thus, the function, neuronal properties like input resistance, dendritic morphology, synaptic conductance as well as the number and location of ion channels and synapses must scale proportionally. A prerequisite to investigate the cellular mechanisms of such a scaling is an evolutionary conserved neuronal population that fulfills the same circuit function independent of head and brain size. The neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) fulfill these criteria and are involved in binaural processing and spectro-temporal integration in the ascending auditory pathway. Quantification of the biophysical and morphological cellular parameters of MNTB neurons and their synaptic input size as well as channel and synapse location in differently sized mammalian species, i.e. Etruscan shrew, gerbil and rat, allows us to grasp the consequences of brain size-dependent neuron scaling. Our electrophysiological and immunofluorescence findings will culminate in a computational model to understand the functional significances of individual neuronal elements. Moreover, we can utilize this comparative approach to investigate the functional role of MNTB dendrites, which remains largely unknown. Specifically, by quantitatively determining the influence of dendritic synaptic inputs on synaptic latency and the success of action potential generation, we can capture their potential role in the generation of high frequency outputs.

Funding: DFG, 255.550 EUR

Project Details:
Bovine Viral Diarrhea/ Mucosal Disease (BVD/ MD) is an economically important notifiable disease of cattle. The causative agent, BVD virus (BVDV), is a plus strand RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, genus Pestivirus. BVDV is known to enter oronasally and through the respiratory tract, from where it spreads to various organs and tissues. The initial stage of infection is poorly understood. In the context of preliminary work it was shown that non-differentiated polarized respiratory epithelial cells are highly susceptible to apical and basolateral infection with BVDV, but virus release occurs only via the apical side of the cells. Thus, it remains unknown how pestiviruses cross the barrier of the airway epithelium. However, it is well established that BVDV and other pestiviruses have a strong tropism for immune cells. Therefore, an important goal of this project is to explore the pathway by which BVDV crosses the barrier of the respiratory epithelium and spreads from there to immune cells.
In the first part of the project, the infection of airway epithelial cells (tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells) will be investigated. Two cell culture systems established at the Institute of Virology are available for the analysis of end-differentiated cells: Air-liquid-interface (ALI) cultures and precision lung slices (PCLS). Subsequently, cells that have not yet completed differentiation or cells that are in the regeneration phase after epithelial injury will be examined. Finally, we will analyze whether BVDV can overcome the epithelial barrier in a paracellular manner by exploiting leaky junctions between cells. To find out whether the different infection characteristics in the different culture systems and under the various infection conditions depending on the degree of differentiation can be correlated or explained with the presence of the cellular receptor, the expression of the receptor for BVDV, CD46, will be analyzed. For the detection of CD46 a monoclonal antibody is available, which was produced at the Institute of Virology. Another focus will be studies on the infection of macrophages. Co-cultures of macrophages and airway epithelial cells will be established to find out whether macrophage infection can be used to overcome the epithelial barrier.
Other interesting perspectives for future projects include the role of cellular innate immunity for respiratory epithelial infection with BVDV, and viral-viral or viral-bacterial co-infections.

Funding: MWK über Universität Göttingen, 29.423 EUR

Project Details:
Schwere COVID-19-Krankheitsfälle sind durch das Auftreten einer schweren Lungenentzündung charakterisiert, die häufig einen Krankenhausaufenthalt erfordern. Bis zu einem Drittel der hospitalisierten Patienten entwickeln kritische Komplikationen, wie einen diffusen Alveolarschaden, welcher zum akuten Atemnotsyndroms (ARDS) führt. Ein detailliertes Verständnis der komplexen Pathogenese und der daraus resultierenden Krankheitskomplikationen ist dringend erforderlich, um wirksame Behandlungsstrategien für die SARS-CoV-2-Infektion zu entwickeln. Mehrere erfolgreiche Präventionsstrategien wie Impfstoffe wurden entwickelt und für ihre Anwendung beim Menschen zugelassen. Wir sind jedoch noch weit von einer Eindämmung der Krankheit entfernt und könnten mit dem vermehrten Auftreten von Virusvarianten vor zusätzlichen Herausforderungen stehen. Zwar ist bereits viel über die Pathogenese und Behandlung der akuten COVID-19 Erkrankung bekannt, jedoch wissen wir immer noch sehr wenig über die potentiellen Langzeitfolgen. Es wird immer deutlicher, dass eine protrahierte Genesung ein häufiges Merkmal COVID-19 ist, ein Phänomen, das allgemein als "Long-COVID" oder Post-COVID-Syndrom bezeichnet wird. 30-60% der Personen leiden nach der Genesung von einer akuten Virusinfektion an anhaltenden Symptomen wie Müdigkeit, Kurzatmigkeit und verringerter Belastbarkeit. Dieses Projekt soll dazu beitragen, die Mechanismen von "Long-COVID" besser zu verstehen und daraus neue Behandlungsstrategien abzuleiten.

Funding: MWK über Universität Göttingen, 24.805 EUR

Project Details:
Die Zusammensetzung und Reaktivität des lungenspezifischen Immunsystems wird durch verschiedene Mechanismen gesteuert. Wichtig ist hierbei insbesondere die körpereigene, genetische Disposition des Individuums. Genetische Varianten sind wichtige Determinanten der kindlichen Asthma- und Virusinfektionsanfälligkeit . Aber auch äußere Faktoren wie Infektionen, Rauchen oder Umweltgifte können das Immunsystem des Lungengewebes prägen. Neuste Studien zeigen, dass auch dem Lungenmikrobiom eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Regulierung und Aktivität des Lungenimmunsystems zukommt. Das Lungenmikrobiom wurde spät entdeckt, da man lange Zeit davon ausging, dass die Lunge eine pathogenfreie, sterile Umgebung darstellt. In diesem Projekt soll der Einfluss der Lungemikrobioms auf die Schwere einer SARS-CoV-2 Infektion untersucht werden.

Funding: DFG, 240.000 EUR

Project Details:
Wild animals can serve as reservoir for causative agents of important livestock diseases including African and Classical swine fever, Foot and mouth disease, Bluetongue as well as for zoonotic viruses like SARS coronaviruses, Rabies virus, and Hepatitis E virus. In recent years, a growing number of emerging viruses were identified in domestic and wild animals. These include novel bunyaviruses, reoviruses, astroviruses, birnaviruses, circoviruses and parvoviruses from wild boar detected during the first funding period of VIPER. Another example is the identification of pestiviruses from non-ungulate hosts including rodents, bats, pangolin, and a whale. Further characterization of these newly identified viruses, including studies on viral replication, innate immune responses and other virus-host interactions, depends on successful virus isolation and propagation in tissue culture cells. Preliminary work revealed that the whale pestivirus can efficiently infect swine kidney cells and viral antigen is detectable by a monoclonal antibody. However, for several other viruses virus isolation was not successful. The recent establishment of airway and intestinal epithelial cells organoid cultures from pigs and cattle at our institute can be very useful for isolation and subsequent characterization of selected novel viruses. It is expected that the results of this project will enhance our understanding of viral evolution, origin, cross species transmission and virus-host interactions of human and animal viruses, and thus improve outbreak preparedness and infectious disease control.

Results:

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/107