Research

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG), 398.333 EUR

Project Details:
Virus emergence and re-emergence is an increasing public health
problem as globalization and climate change promote the spread of
infectious disease. This is particularly true for mosquito-borne
infections as mosquitoes continue to spread to new geographic
regions. Alphaviruses such as Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) belong to the group of
mosquito-borne viruses, which cause pathology in humans. The re-emerging CHIKV is causing long-lasting arthritis like symptoms, while
VEEV infection leads to encephalitis. Why the two viruses from the
same family cause pathologies in different tissues, i.e. joints versus
central nervous system (CNS), is unclear to date. This gap of
knowledge is reflected by the fact that few host factors for CHIKV and
VEEV are known. Here we capitalize on our findings that the
phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor T cell immunoglobulin mucin
receptor 1 (TIM-1) and a tetraspanin are host factors for CHIKV. We
hypothesize that (a) VEEV also hijacks PS receptors and tetraspanins
to infect human cells, (b) TIM-1 and the tetraspanin interact with
additional proteins to promote infection with CHIKV and possibly
VEEV and (c) that a subset of these host factors contribute to tissue
tropism of CHIKV and VEEV. To test our hypothesis we will initially
use unbiased state of the art quantitative proteomics methods to
identify entry factors and receptors of CHIKV and VEEV. Next we will
screen PS receptors and all 33 human tetraspanins for their role in
VEEV infection by RNA interference in human cells. TIM-1 and
Tetraspanin associated proteins will be identified by proximity labeling
in conjunction with high-resolution affinity enrichment mass
spectrometry. Finally we will investigate the contribution of the
identified host factors to tissue tropism of CHIKV and VEEV using
proteomics, single cell sequencing and virological methods.
Specifically, we will infect skin organotypic raft cultures and determine
the predominantly infected cell type as well as expression levels of
identified host factors in the susceptible versus refractory cells.
Additionally we will integrate expression data from online repositories
and measure proteomes of relevant cell types including fibroblasts
and neuronal cells. Using feature selection approaches, we will
identify host factors, which likely contribute to the distinct tissue
tropism and pathologies caused by CHIKV and VEEV. These host
factors will be systematically knocked out first in relevant cell types
and then in mice to delineate the contribution to disease manifestation
in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, this research program aims at
providing mechanistic insight into the infection processes caused by
two important human pathogens, CHIKV and VEEV. The results will
help understand disease mechanisms and may ultimately reveal drug
targets for therapeutic intervention with Chikungunya fever and
Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

Funding: COVID-19-Forschungsnetzwerkes COFONI vom Niedersächsischen Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur über die Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
This project aims at
(1) Establish a database for BSL-3 sample biobanking from preclinical in vivo models of
COVID-19 disease within COFONI-network
(2) Initial review and meta-analysis of internationally available data on preclinical in vivo
models of COVID-19 disease

Funding: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Panama, 18.000 EUR

Project Details:
The evolution of different forms of parental care is an important topic in behavioral ecology, and it involves complex suites of associated parental and offspring traits. For example, some parents provide nourishment or selection and protection of suitable nesting sites for offspring. Understanding how memory guides individuals to locate or return to a reproductive resource is one of the major challenges in studies of animal behavior. During parental care, poison frogs routinely transport their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to suitable deposition sites, and some individuals return to supply their offspring with nutritive unfertilized eggs. Thus, these frogs rely on spatial memory to exploit resources important for successful reproduction. However, it is unknown how the spatial abilities are related to the parental care traits performed by an individual. The aim of this study is to investigate behavioral spatial strategies and their genetic basis in the strawberry poison-dart frog, Oophaga pumilio. To investigate the spatial strategies in the context of parental care we aim examining ability of females and males to find a goal in a plus maze under experimental conditions. Moreover, we will determine the possible genes involved in spatial learning through gene expression analysis (RNASeq) of the pallium, the brain region known to be involved in spatial learning. Since females perform most parental care duties involving navigation in large home ranges, we expect females to have better spatial abilities than males.

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Roberto Ibañéz, Ph. D., Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Prof. Dr. Klaudia Witte, Universität Siegen

Funding: QS Fachgesellschaft Geflügel GmbH, 40.000 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to scientifically evaluate a combination of different approaches in practice and to comprehensively analyze whether the following measures significantly improve animal health and, in particular, reliably prevent enterococcal infections.

Funding: FAPESP DGHT, 37.713 EUR

Project Details:
The study of the evolutionary processes that originate phenotypic diversity can offer insights into the process of adaptation in natural populations. Coloration patterns variation have intrigued scientists for centuries, and among vertebrates amphibians are one of the most interesting groups, exhibiting a vast variation in coloration, whose function has been mainly associated with UV protection, interspecies communication, and predator avoidance. Despite significant advances made on this topic, the genetic basis of coloration in amphibians is still surprisingly unknown. Herein we propose to deepen in genomic bases of coloration in the genus Brachycephalus, using the aposematic and polymorphic species B. actaeus as model. We are going to use transcriptomic data to identify genes, which are differentially expressed as well as histological sample for gathering information about chromatophore abundance and distribution among colour morphs in this species.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Célio Haddad, UNESP (Brazil)

Dr. Mariana Lyra, New York University, Abu Dhabi

Dr. Andrés Brunetti, Max Plank Institute for Chemical Ecology

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 204.886 EUR

Project Details:
In this research project, systematic investigations on the development and the role of the immune response during Enterococcus cecorum infections in chickens will be conducted for the first time. Until now it is unknown, how the unspecific and specific immune system reacts on the infection.The results of this research project may be fundamental for the development of vaccines against this very important pathogen of broiler type birds.

Funding: DZIF, BMBF, 115.000 EUR

Project Details:
The main protease 3CLpro is a prominent drug target to control corona virus (CoV) replication and associated disease. The target is structure-enabled, structurally conserved and believed to offer an opportunity for multi-/pan-CoV-inhibitor designs. Pfizer have received an Emergency Use Authorization for their first-generation 3CL inhibitor Paxlovid. This serves the important clinical target validation for Covid-19 but also demands a differentiation strategy for second generation drugs as outlined herein. We will be applying our University of Marburg (UMR) based mouse transduction CoV challenge model, optimized for SARS-CoV-2 variants-of-concern and the dosing of the herein pursued second generation 3CL inhibitors as designed and synthesized by the Lead Discovery Center (LDC). In addition, the frontrunner compound will be tested head-to-head against Paxlovid in the hamster SARS-CoV-2 disease model maintained at University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. In so doing we contribute to the preclinical proof-of-concept and hopefully the nomination a lead compound of the second generation 3CLpro inhibitors by LDC.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Stephan Becker, Marburg

LDC

Funding: Morris Animal Foundation, 62.488 EUR

Project Details:
We will investigate brain function, brain metabolism and gut microbiome in dogs to distinguish between epileptic seizures and a episodic movement disorder called paroxysmal dyskinesia - commonly mistaken for epileptic seizures - to improve diagnosis and appropriate treatment

Project Details:
Animal welfare of pigs kept on farms includes both the well-being and the health of the animals. In Germany, there have been legal changes in relation to pig farming in recent years in order to achieve greater animal welfare. The study examines whether users inform themselves about topics concerning animal welfare in pig farming in Germany in forums and blogs and whether people with a professional background use these platforms to publish their personal opinions and evaluate emerging topics. For this purpose, the discussion content of Internet users with an obvious professional reference to pig farming is identified and their reaction to posts relating to animal welfare in pig farming is analyzed by means of a qualitative content analysis (Translated with DeepL.com (free version)).

Funding: MELUND, 103.127 EUR

Project Details:
Two populations of harbour porpoise occur in the coastal waters of the German Baltic Sea, of which the "Western Belt Sea Population" is significantly larger with an estimated 42,324 individuals (acceptance range: 23,368-76,658), compared to the "Baltic Proper population", which is considered "critically endangered" with an estimated 497 individuals (acceptance range: 80-1,091). Harbour porpoise habitat in the Baltic Sea is intensely impacted by human activities that can have a negative impact on population level. These include shipping, tourist recreational activities, military activities, fishing, offshore construction, explosions of ammunition, chemical and pharmaceutical pollution, and marine debris. In the Baltic Sea in particular, harbour porpoise are threatened by set-net fisheries, to suffer from incidental bycatches. To warn harbour porpoises of set nets, acoustic devices are increasingly being used in the German Baltic Sea. These warning devices (Porpoise Alert = PAL) simulate a communication sound of harbour porpoises. Whether these devices lead to a reduction in bycatch has not yet been conclusively investigated. Effective management measures necessitate a deeper understanding of harbour porpoise habitat use. This is urgently needed, as there is evidence of declines in harbour porpoise populations in Schleswig-Holstein's waters.
The harbour porpoise is listed in Annex II and IV of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directives, which obliges EU member states to monitor its conservation status. In this project, the occurrence and habitat use of harbour porpoises in the western part of the Baltic Sea is investigated by means of passive acoustic monitoring. For this purpose, porpoise click detectors (CPODs, Cetacean-Porpoise Detector) were deployed at four positions in March 2021 to record the presence of harbour porpoises. The operated monitoring stations (Holnis, Bredgrund, Schleisand and Damp) cover the area of the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea and are intended to close the gap in the monitoring network between Fehmarn and Denmark.

Results:

Untersuchungen zur Habitatnutzung von Schweinswalen in der westlichen Ostsee mittels passiv-akustischem Monitoring 2021-2023 (PDF, 2MB, Datei ist barrierefrei)

https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/fachinhalte/A/artenschutz/Downloads/untersuchungenHabitatnutzungSchweinswale.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1