Research

Project Details:
Different field strains of important, food-associated microorganisms (Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica ssp., Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni) are chosen. Subsequently, milk of different species (cattle and small ruminants) is inoculated with these germs and heat-treated under subpasteurization (thermization) conditions, which means low temperature treatments for short times. Aim of the study is to investigate the heat damage which is caused to the different microorganisms directly after heat treatment and after a storage period of three days. Additionally, possible matrix effects and strain variances are determined.

Project Details:
Holding and managing pigs currently faces diverse adjustments regarding animal welfare, castration, tail docking and housing in crate stands. Farmers discuss this in different blogs and expert forms in the internet. In this study expert opinion in the internet are assessed to evaluate the experts’ knowledge regarding the themes named aboved. Citations shall be compared with current evidence base scientific knowledge. Differences shall be described and discussed in order to developed tight-fit training and education.

Funding: Hirsch foundation, 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
Decellularized heart valve tissues can be used to replace a malfunctioning heart valve. This option is particularly suitable for young patients, because decellularized tissues have regeneration potential. We have pioneered in developing methods for dry preservation of mammalian cells and tissues and demonstrated that this can be done using disaccharides such as sucrose or trehalose which can be found at high concentrations in anhydrobiotic organisms that naturally survive drying. Drying of decellularized heart valves may alter the properties of the extracellular matrix and impair their in vivo efficacy. The central aim of this project is to test if sucrose can be used for dry preservation of heart valves so that they can be safely used for transplantation. We already established methods to freeze-dry heart valves, but their storage stability needs to be demonstrated. In this project we plan to evaluate if vacuum-drying, which lacks a damaging freezing step, can be used as an alternative drying method. The second objective is to study the effects of (freeze-)drying on scaffold structure, and matrix biomolecules directly after drying as well during storage under normal (4°C or room temperate) and accelerated aging (37°C/high relative humidity) storage conditions. The general tissue architecture will be studied on hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) will be used to obtain spectral fingerprints of tissues during storage. For the latter principal component analysis of the spectra will be used to evaluate tissue modifications during storage. Furthermore, accumulation of oxidative damage will be determined. We postulate that overall tissue structural appearance, and therewith functionality, are compromised by ice crystals, and that this can be minimized by reducing the tissue water content prior to freezing, or to avoid ice formation by using vacuum drying.

Funding: Gesellschaft für kynologische Forschung, 25.596 EUR

Project Details:
Ziel der Studie ist es, über den Therapienotstand in der Behandlung von Übelkeit als Symptom des Vestibularsyndroms des Hundes hinwegzuhelfen. Während es gute medikamentöse Behandlungsstrategien gegen Erbrechen gibt, wird die damit zusammenhängende Übelkeit häufig übersehen und bleibt unbehandelt. In unserer Studie testen wir daher ein neues Medikament gegen Übelkeit und etablieren einen Biomarker, um sie besser erkennen und objektiv evaluieren zu können.

Results:

The results provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefit of ondansetron in the treatment of nausea, which was present in all examined dogs. Vomiting was only observed in some dogs indicating that nausea can occur separately and should not be perceived only as a preceding stimulation of the vomiting centre.

https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-021-02931-9

Funding: Drittmittelprojekt, gefördert durch die Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung., 70.000 EUR

Project Details:
The present study is exploring the potential of the cold-plasma-technology for the production of meat products without the addition of nitrite curing salt. PPA (= plama processed air) and PAW (= plasma activated water) are used do generate reactive nitrogen species in meat batter which might induce a reddening effect during the production of cooked sausages. Products generated with this novel technology are analyzed for microbiological, sensory and physicochemical parameters after production and after a storage period.

Project Details:
Wir untersuchen den Einfluss von Darm-Organismen auf die Symptome und Komorbiditäten der Epilepsie. Es gibt stets mehr Hinweise darauf, dass die Darm-Hirn-Achse eine wichtige Rolle für die Hirngesundheit spielt. Zur Therapie wird ergänzend einmal tgl. ein Probiotikum gegeben, welches die Lebensqualität verbessern und ggf. Anfälle reduzieren soll, die pharmakologisch nur schlecht kontrollierbar sind.

Funding: Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung, 225.774 EUR

Project Details:
The population of the native grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) developed well after their protection and subsequent recolonisation of the Wadden Sea. The positive trend of the population poses a challenge from the management perspective. There is an increasing requirement of suitable habitat, which is commonly associated with enhanced conflict potential. A special kind of conflict exists on the Heligoland Dune, where the largest grey seal colony occurs in German waters. Individual animals habituated to human presence due to spatial density and the continuous close contact between humans and animals and therefore do not display the expected escape reflex anymore. This involves an increased risk potential for swimmers, especially in the water. This study aims to test specific management measures in order to create a swimming area safe for people and to implement them officially if successful. On that account, an acoustic method shall be tested, which has not been used for that purpose yet and is based on the so called startle reflex. In contrast to conventional acoustic devices scaring off seals unspecifically, a very specific signal will be used, which has got no extensive negative effects on target and also non-target species in theory. The study investigates if the application of this system has got the desired efficiency and causes no evident negative effects in this special context.

Results:

Within the framework of the project work already carried out, it has not yet been possible to achieve the targeted goals, as unexpected problems have arisen during data collection in the field. Considering the importance of this system for the community of Helgoland, as well as for the acceptance of grey seals by the inhabitants and guests of Helgoland, it would be important to complete this started experiment. Through a desired project extension, an objectively evaluable data basis should be created, wherewith the acoustic deterrence system can be evaluated.

Funding: KWS Lochow GmbH, 82.107 EUR

Project Details:
-

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 166.732 EUR

Project Details:
Der Verantwortungsraum von Berater/Innen wird bestimmt und Empfehlungen an die Hand gegeben, wie eine verantwortungsbewusste Beratung konkret umgesetzt werden kann. Es werden Konzept und Material für Fortbildungsangebote entwickelt, die zum einen Verantwortung von Berater/innen verdeutlichen und zum anderen auch die tierethischen Aspekte in der Beratung vermitteln.

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), 317.250 EUR

Project Details:
The genus Pestivirus belongs to the virus family Flaviviridae and comprises RNA viruses of great relevance, like Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), which are causative pathogens of notifiable diseases. Since decades, it was commonly accepted that pestiviruses infections are restricted to cloven hooved (ungulate) hosts. Recently, several atypical pestiviruses have been discovered in non-ungulate hosts (rats and bats). These newly discovered pestiviruses show the typical genome organization, but are genetically highly distinct. Obviously, these novel viruses represent a new group within the pestiviruses with so far uncharacterized biological properties. In addition, such a novel pestivirus was also discovered in pigs and tentatively designated "atypical porcine pestivirus"(APPV). Own research as well as studies from several other groups revealed an association with neurological symptoms in newborn piglets (congenital tremors). An association with other disease complexes (e.g. infertility, abortion, malformation) is under discussion and seems to be likely.
Despite the broad tissue tropism observed in infected pigs, it is hardly possible to isolate and propagate APPV on the porcine cell lines established for CSFV. Finally, the success in virus isolation and cell culture adaptation allow now investigating the biological properties of this pathogen in vitro. Preliminary work provides strong evidence that major differences exist in the entry process of APPV and CSFV. Binding of the pathogen and the subsequent entry into the host cell are crucial steps in the viral infectious cycle and therefore often relevant also in the pathogenesis of viral diseases. Against this background it is planned to investigate the entry mechanism of APPV and other porcine pestiviruses in detail. Aim of the research project is to identify and characterize key factors required for entry of porcine pestiviruses like APPV and CSFV into the host cell. In particular, the processing of the APPV envelope proteins as well as their involvement in viral attachment and entry will be addressed. By using genetically engineered cell lines it is planned to characterize the relevance of different host cell proteins, which have been previously suggested to be involved in viral entry. Finally, it will be investigated how the binding to the host cell determines the tissue and host tropism of APPV.
Knowledge of key factors required for entry of APPV into the host cell will help to better understand the biology of this newly discovered pathogen. Furthermore, this study may provide insights into the complex, likely multistep entry process of porcine pestiviruses like APPV and CSFV. On basis of gained knowledge, future studies could address the molecular determinants of tissue and host tropism, virulence properties of pestiviruses and mechanisms of pathogenicity of pestiviral infections.

Results:

Publications from this project:

https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/JVI.02186-20

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2021.2011620

In addition to these studies on the importance of the host cell factor CD46 for cell entry, other cellular factors have been identified that appear to play a significant role in cell entry of pestiviruses. Further investigation of these factors is being carried out in a DFG-funded continuation project.