Research

Project Details:
Im Rahmen der Studien wird der Nachweis von Salmonellen im Rahmen des Mikrobioms untersucht, sowie der Einfluss externer und interner Faktoren auf die Ausscheidungsrate. Dabei wird auch der Einsatz von Phagen zur Beeinflussung der Salomonellenausscheidung geprüft.

Cooperation Partners:

RKI Wernigerode, Helmholtz-Institut Leipzig

Project Details:
Equine asthma (EA) is the most important lung disease in adult horses. EA is characterised by airway hyperreactivity and chronic neutrophilic inflammation leading to irreversible lung damage
and breathing distress in disease progression. Research on EA endo- and phenotypes is lacking. The diagnosis of mild/moderate EA (mEA, formerly "inflammatory airway disease") and severe
EA (sEA, formerly "recurrent airway obstruction") is made by clinical history, symptoms and neutrophil granulocyte count in tracheobronchial (TBF) / bronchoalveolar (BALF) fluids. This
disregards disease heterogeneity that is present in EA cases, underlies examiner variances and does not provide determined therapy. The leading role of neutrophils in EA is still uncertain. We will investigate whether neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are part of the pathogenesis and whether valuable correlations to clinical symptoms and diagnosis finding can be made. Therefore, 24 horses are thoroughly examined and scored as to disease severity and phenotype. NET-formation from blood derived neutrophils will be investigated via NET-induction assay and quantified using immunofluorescence microscopy in diseased versus healthy horses. In addition,NETs in TBF, BALF and bronchial biopsies are investigated and quantification of NET- and inflammatory-markers will be performed.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)/PTJ Jülich, 528.494 EUR

Project Details:
Marine mammals, such as grey seal, harbor seal and harbor porpoise, are important top predators in the ecosystem of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. All species have a high conservation status in Europe and are sensitive to changes and disturbances in their environment. They are therefore considered important indicators of the state of marine ecosystems. In order to consider this group of species in ecosystem models accordingly and also to make assessments as well as management measures, both the demands on their habitat and the influences of anthropogenic stressors have to be included.
The aim of this project is to integrate the occurrence of marine mammals in the novel cross-scale end-to-end (E2E) model system being developed in CoastalFutures in an interdisciplinary manner. With this model system, the project creates a virtual environment to study impacts of climate change and anthropogenic uses on ecosystems and key species, and to test different management measures that have not yet been evaluated, especially in the context of marine mammal population protection and conservation.
The project will improve prediction of temporal and spatial changes in marine mammal abundance and develop an understanding of those processes that influence interannual and seasonal variability in species distribution. In addition, model development involves stakeholders to evaluate current and potential use patterns and test management actions. Anthropogenic stressors, such as the effects of offshore wind energy development, will be investigated through telemetry studies of harbor seals to draw conclusions about the effects of noise emissions on energy budgets via recording and modeling behavioral responses. This will allow for a multifactorial, more comprehensive assessment of human-caused underwater noise. The use scenarios will be run in combination with scenario simulations of regional impacts of future climate change using the marine mammal distribution models and coupled with the end-to-end (E2E) model system.
As a result, the project generates urgently needed action knowledge for the implementation of political-societal targets, e.g. from the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and enables the evaluation of the effectiveness of management options for the protected good 'marine mammals' under future climate conditions.

Results:

Gilles, A.; Pigeault, R.; Ramirez-Martinez, N. C.; Schaffeld, T.; Siebert, U. CoastalFutures - Zukunftsszenarien zur Förderung einer nachhaltigen Nutzung mariner Räume: Vorhaben: Szenarien für marine Säugetiere; Technische Informationsbibliothek: Hannover, 2025.

https://doi.org/10.34657/19387

Cooperation Partners:

Hereon Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon GmbH, Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung

Prof. Corinna Schrum, Institut für Küstensysteme -Analyse und Modellierung

IOW Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde

CAU-FTZ Universität Kiel, Forschungs- und Technologiezentrum Westküste

TUBS Technische Universität Braunschweig, Leichtweiß-Institut für Wasserbau

UHH Universität Hamburg, Institut für Meereskunde

TI-SF/OF Thünen-Institut (TI für Seefischerei, TI für Ostseefischerei)

LUH Leibniz Universität Hannover, Ludwig-Franzius-Institut

AWI Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung

TUHH Technische Universität Hamburg, Institut für Wasserbau

BSH Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie

DWD Deutscher Wetterdienst

BAW Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau

BfN Bundesamt für Naturschutz

SWIMWAY SWIMWAY Wattenmeer-Gruppe

Funding: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)/PTJ Jülich, 197.600 EUR

Project Details:
The North and Baltic Seas are currently undergoing increasing change due to human activities and climate change. The aim of the subproject of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, conducted by the Institute of Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, is to identify and establish pathogens in native marine mammals and in the environment as indicators of increasing anthropogenic pressures on marine mammals. Habitat changes and effects of anthropogenic activities on marine mammals could be detected at an early stage and serve the development of management recommendations and political and societal decision-making processes with regard to the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine areas. For this purpose, existing data from previous projects on marine mammals from the planned observatories' areas will be compiled. In addition, new data will be obtained during the project from live and dead grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and taken from the environment at the selected observatories/sampling stations (real laboratories), which include Borkum Riffgrund, Sylt Outer Reef and Eckernförde Bay. The swab, tissue and water samples are analyzed for the bacteria and selected viruses present using various modern methods. The loads are recorded both qualitatively and quantitatively. The data obtained will be used to assess whether there have been changes in the loads at the three sites over the past 25 years. In addition, the data will be analyzed with respect to pathogens with indicator suitability, and appropriate pathogens will be integrated into the long-term monitoring strategy of the reallaboratories. This integrated research on marine mammals, together with the results of the other project partners, forms an overall picture. This research will make an important contribution to the sustainable use and protection of the coasts and seas, as well as their inhabitants, and thus to the conservation of biodiversity.

Results:

Kurzbericht zum Vorhaben Entwicklung von Indikatorpathogenen bei Meeressäugern zur Weiterentwicklung der Bewertung anthropogener Einflüsse

https://doi.org/10.34657/21099

Cooperation Partners:

Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven inklusive Helmholtz-Institut für Funktionelle Marine Biodiversität an der Universität Oldenburg

Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel

Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, Bonn

GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde

Max-Planck-Institut für Marine Mikrobiologie, Bremen

Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhelmshaven

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Bremerhaven

Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig

Universität Greifswald

Universität Oldenburg

Rostock Universität Rostock

Leibniz-Zentrum f. Mar. Tropenforschung Bremen

Funding: Umweltbundesamt, (Geschäftszeichen: 25 105/0386, Projektnummer: 3721252010) Fachbegleitung: Ulrike Pirntke, UBA, 199.989 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to develop a monitoring and assessment concept for the pollutant load of marine mammals in the North and Baltic Seas. The work thus also contributes to the implementation of the requirements for descriptor 8 (pollutants) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
Within the scope of the contract, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) Foundation will evaluate the current state of knowledge on pollutant loads and health effects for harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) from the North and Baltic Seas using existing publications, reports and data sets. For this purpose, studies from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea as well as from other marine areas will be used. Furthermore, a monitoring and assessment concept for the pollution load of marine mammals under the MSFD, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea (HELCOM) and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) will be developed. The utilization of the determined pollutant data in marine mammals for the chemical legislation, e.g. REACH, Plant Protection Act will be ensured together with UBA.
In order to be able to assess the pollutant load, assessment thresholds for selected pollutants for the protection of marine mammals will be developed together with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ): environmental quality standards (EQS) will be derived for the selected pollutants, following the methodology of the EU Technical Guidance Document (TGD) No. 27, in order to comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the MSFD and the regional conventions OSPAR as well as HELCOM in approach and level of protection. The aim is that the marine mammal EQS to be developed will support the implementation of descriptor 8 (pollutants) and indicator development at OSPAR as well as HELCOM for a (regional) assessment of marine mammal pollutant loads.

Results:

Abschlußbericht: Entwicklung eines Monitoring- und Bewertungskonzeptes für die Schadstoffbelastung mariner Säuger in der Nord- und Ostsee zur Umsetzung der MSRL

https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/entwicklung-eines-monitoring-bewertungskonzeptes

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Annika Jahnke, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ

Funding: Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV), 125.800 EUR

Project Details:
In order to be able to improve the prevention of work-related health hazards, a proposal for a standardised test procedure for the validation of air purifiers for indoor spaces should be available after completion of the research project. The test procedure should both verify the effectiveness of the applied procedure with regard to the reduction of the virus load in the indoor air in addition to other manufacturer specifications, and also takes into account possible risks for people who are in the treated indoor spaces after or during the air purification (e.g. nitrogen oxides, photobiological safety).

Cooperation Partners:

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

Forschungsstelle: Fraunhofer Institut für Holzforschung (Wilhelm Klauditz-Institut - WKI - )

Project Details:
Durch die Untersuchung soll die Prävalenz von EOTRH beim Islandpferd in seinem ursprünglichen Lebensraum herausgefunden werden. Nachdem eine belgischen Studie Hinweise auf eine erhöhte Prävalenz von EOTRH beim Islandpferd liefert, soll nun festgestellt werden, ob tatsächlich eine Disposition beim Islandpferd vorliegt. Die Lebensbedingungen des Islandpferdes entsprechen in seinem Heimatland nach jahrhundertelanger geographischer und genetischer nahezu vollständiger Isolation immer noch weitestgehend den natürlichen Gegebenheiten in Haltung und Fütterung, wobei der europäische Einfluss in den letzten Jahren auch hier stetig wächst. Auf Grundlage dessen kann jetzt das Auftreten von EOTRH unter verschiedenen Voraussetzungen herausgearbeitet werden.
Vor Ort finden sowohl klinische als auch röntgenologische Untersuchungen statt. Eine ausführliche Anamnese und die Untersuchung bestimmter Blutparameter sollen zu weiteren generellen Erkenntnissen über die Ätiologie dieser Zahnerkrankung führen.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 206.956 EUR

Project Details:
In vitro investigations on host-pathogen interactions and factors determining virulence of non-notifiable avian Influenza viruses.

Cooperation Partners:

GD Deventer, Dr. S. de Wit

University of Edinburgh, Dr. L. Vervelde

Department of Poultry Diseases, Pulawy, Dr. K. Smietanka

Hungary, Prof. A. Balint

Funding: BLE, 387.946 EUR

Project Details:
This cooperational project focusses on the development of an interactive, animal welfare-oriented sensor system that creates an intelligent housing environment for pigs to improve animals' well-being. Measurable environmental parameters such as air quality, temperature and lighting conditions are automatically recorded. In addition, animal activity, animal sounds and lying behaviour will be recorded using cameras installed in the barn. By an AI-based algorithm linked data serve as an active control of the barn environment. As soon as the AI detects noticeable patterns, a light regime or a projection of a moving lighting pattern in the barn environment starts. In parallel, a reward feeding is initiated, so that the exploratory behavior of pigs is directed. Since the system reacts to even the smallest changes and enables intelligent, animal-related environmental control, it represents a preventive approach that is intended to optimally support farmers in their animal observation. Digital linking of all data from the barn allows their evaluation despite their complexity supporting active animal health care.

Cooperation Partners:

Universität Vechta

Peter Kenkel GmbH

Fraunhofer Institut für Zerstörungsfreie Prüfverfahren

VetVise GmbH

Funding: DFG, 109.050 EUR

Project Details:
Im Rahmen dieses Projektes wird die Rolle des Makrophagen-induzierbaren C-Typ Lektinrezeptors (MINCLE) im Verlauf der Strongyloides ratti-Infektion untersucht, mit Fokus auf wurmvermittelte Immunmodulation. Ziel des Projektes ist es, die Rolle von MINCLE während der Infektion mit S. ratti im Mausmodell genauer zu untersuchen und Liganden für MINCLE in den Lysaten von S. ratti zu identifizieren und molekular zu charakterisieren. Zusammenfassend erwarten wir von dem Projekt ein genaueres Verständnis der Immunevasion im Verlauf von Wurminfektionen und des Einflusses des C-Typ Lektinrezeptors MINCLE auf diesen Prozess.