Research

Funding: DFG (VIPER GRK)

Project Details:
Characterizing the impact of morbilliviruses upon innate responses and the integrity of respiratory epithelial cells.
-Generation and characterization of 3D-culture systems of different wildlife carnivore species
-Analyses of morbillivirus infections upon respiratory tract cells of wild carnivores in vivo and ex vivo

Funding: DFG (VIPER GRK)

Project Details:
Hypothesis:
Viral genomic sequences obtained from archived canine formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue of the central nervous system and will allow establishing a cause-consequence relationship between the detected known and unknown viral pathogen and pathological findings.
Aim and objectives:
The general aim of the project is further identify the viral cause of canine diseases of the central nervous system.
-By using conventional histology and immunochistochemistry of archived tissues from the last 6 decades to identify cases of non-supprative encephalitis of unknown origin
-Suspected virus infection will be further substantiated by applying double-stranded RNA or selected interferon stimulated genes specific antibodies and a probe specific for interferon β.
-Followed by ribonucleic acid extraction from the selected FFPE tissues, RT-qPCR using pan-genus primer and/or NGS. Alignment to reference genomes available in databases will be used to detect known viral pathogens and related unknown viruses
-Investigation of the pathogenesis of the discovered virus by studying cell tropism and the distribution of the virus in the host organism using in situ hybridization for the distribution of the pathogen

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Virusdiagnostik, Friedrich Löffler Institut

Funding: DFG, 502.000 EUR

Project Details:
This project focuses on advancing our understanding of the human enteric nervous system (ENS), specifically the myenteric plexus, which plays a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal motility. The ENS is often compared to an external hard disk controlling gastrointestinal functions and operating autonomously from the brain. Our literature research emphasizes the need for human-specific data, due to limitations in extrapolating findings from animal models to humans, as demonstrated by species-specific differences in neurotransmitter effects and signalling pathways.
The present study proposes comprehensive research methods involving human intestinal (colonic) tissue sampling and preparation, neuroimaging with voltage and calcium-sensitive dyes, in vitro motility experiments in organ bath, and immunohistochemistry. Our aim is to bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the functional properties and connectivity of human myenteric neurons. The experimental design involves investigating neuronal activation, neurotransmitter responses, and synaptic communication within the human colonic myenteric plexus. Additionally, the study aims to characterize and identify mechanosensitive enteric neurons, to perform immunohistochemistry for phenotypic analysis, and to study spontaneous and nerve-mediated intestinal motility and its pharmacology. The project also aims to explore the influence of extrinsic afferents on intestinal motility. Furthermore, the project plans to assess the impact of patient characteristics especially in relation to age, sex, and body mass index on the neuronal count and motility data.
In summary, the research project strives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the human colonic myenteric plexus, contributing valuable insights into the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders and potentially paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (Bundesprogramm ökologischer Landbau), 231.160 EUR

Project Details:
The overarching objective of the project is to improve the health of suckling and weaned piglets under organic farming conditions in free-farrowing systems and piglet rearing systems through optimized housing and feeding strategies, and to identify approaches for reducing piglet mortality. In addition to adapted housing and nutrition, an improved, farm-specific health and hygiene management system is intended to contribute substantially to stable herd health in organic production systems. Furthermore, the project aims to close existing knowledge gaps and generate new scientific insights for organic sow husbandry and piglet production through the investigation and evaluation of multiple research questions.

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen

Georg-August Universität Göttingen

Universität Kassel

Funding: Gefördert mit Mitteln aus zukunft.niedersachsen, 612/ZERN 7897049-TiHo - Open Call, 301.520 EUR

Project Details:
Animal welfare and animal health are, among other factors, substantially influenced by the barn climate. Establishing an optimal barn climate is a complex task, and additional challenges arise from changes in the external climate.
In this project, conducted in collaboration with partners from academia and industry, barn climate parameters and floor temperatures in a forward-looking, animal-friendly housing system are adjusted on the basis of measurements, AI (artificial intelligence)-supported behavioral observations, and accompanying hygiene monitoring. The aim is to ensure that pigs in the rearing and fattening phases make optimal use of pen structures. At the same time, the project investigates from which point onward barn climate control based on the use of enthalpy values becomes meaningful. Furthermore, based on the collected data, heat transfer processes will be represented within a pen model in order to better understand their effects on the microclimate in individual pens.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Richter, Robin Kahlfeld, M. Sc,

Institut für Thermodynamik, Fakultät für Maschinenbau,

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Assoziierte Partner:

Big Dutchman AG

H. Bröring GmbH & Co. KG

VetVise GmbH

Project Details:
Etwa ein Drittel aller Humanpatienten und Zweidrittel aller caninen Patienten mit Epilepsien werden mit den vorhandenen Medikamenten nicht anfallsfrei. Die Entwicklung neuer Therapiestrategien gehört daher zu den großen medizinischen Herausforderungen im Bereich der Epilepsieforschung. Pharmakologische Behandlungen mit Anfallssuppressiva (Antiepileptika) sind zudem mit dosis-abhängigen unerwünschten Nebenwirkungen assoziiert, so dass neben der Entwicklung neuer Medikamente zunehmend auch nicht-pharmakologische Begleit-therapien untersucht werden. Regelmäßiges aerobes Ausdauertraining kann einen therapeutischen Einfluss auf epileptische Anfälle haben und zudem eventuell die Wirksamkeit von Medikamenten direkt beeinflussen. Die Projekthypothese ist, dass sich die antikonvulsive Wirksamkeit verschiedener Klassen von Antiepileptika durch Kombination mit geeigneten Trainingsparametern verstärken lässt, so dass eine geringere Dosis der Medikamente für die Behandlung eingesetzt werden muss, was in der Folge das Risiko unerwünschter Nebenwirkungen senken sollte. Als Nebenhypothese postulieren wir, dass die zu verifizierende Wirksamkeitsverbesserung nicht auf eine Veränderung der Plasmakonzentration des Antiepileptikums zurückzuführen ist, sondern auf Veränderungen der Rezeptoren und Kanäle im epileptischen Netzwerk.

Funding: DFG (VIPER GRK)

Project Details:
Motile cilia are microtubule-based, hair-like projections on the luminal membrane of epithelial cells in conducting airways. Through their continuous wave-like beating, they evacuate mucus secreted by goblet cells, thereby contributing to muco-ciliary clearance (MCC). In this function, motile cilia are actors of the first-line defense against inhaled pathogens. Dysregulated cilia will have a long-term effect on MCC and predispose for further diseases. Similarly, the diffuse endocrine system plays an essential role in respiratory tract imbalances. However, underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are not well understood, neither in various organs nor in the trachea and larynx. Therefore, the envisioned study will enhance our understanding of short- and potential long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper respiratory tract and its associated endocrine and nervous system.

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Virologie, Universität Münster,

Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, U.S.A (Klaus Schughart),

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), Braunschweig (Robert Geffers),

Medizinisch Hochschule Hannover (Peter Claus)

Project Details:
Charakterisierung Darmflora und deren Einfluss aus das Immunsystem bei Reptilien

Funding: DFG (VIPER GKR)

Project Details:
This project aims to investigate the effect of an early (3 days post infection [dpi]) and a late (8 dpi) adoptive transfer of green (GFP) and red fluorescent (RFP) T- cells on the microglial morphology and transcriptomic data in TMEV- infected OT-I and OT-II mice. The contribution of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell subsets for viral clearance and course of clinical disease will be investigated individually as well as the general pathomorphology and immune response with special focus on microglia morphology and transcriptomic data.

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Neuroimmunologie und Multiple-Sklerose-Forschung der Universitätsmedizin Göttingen

Funding: DFG, 250.000 EUR

Project Details:
It is well known that a number of viral pathogens can be detected in saliva of infected humans and animals. However, for most of these viruses the source of their presence in saliva and in the oral cavity remains unknown. While it has been reported that human salivary glands can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 and some other viruses, the role of salivary gland tissues in infection of pigs with respiratory and most enteric viruses has not been addressed so far. To characterize infection of porcine salivary glands by both respiratory viruses (influenza A virus, porcine respiratory coronavirus) and enteric viruses (transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine rotavirus A), differentiated salivary gland epithelial cells and organoid cultures from pigs were established by the group of the PI. In addition to porcine influenza viruses, human and avian influenza viruses will be used to investigate a possible role of porcine salivary glands in interspecies transmission and evolution of influenza virus.