Research

Funding: EIP, EU, Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, 256.193 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out on DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
This project aims to pilot a sustainable, resource-efficient technology for converting plant by-products near agricultural operations into valuable components, particularly protein-rich algae biomass, and to integrate it into daily routines. The project involves processing by-products from vegetable production through hydrolysis and utilizing the hydrolysate as a nutrient source for heterogeneous microalgae. The product of the process is a protein-rich algae biomass that the farmer involved can use as animal feed for pig fattening. In addition to piloting the process on-site and integrating it into daily operations, the project focuses on building new value chains and activating a circular economy in the farms, generating new sales channels and additional income. Current results include a ready-to-use prototype for microalgae production and its environmental impacts. The environmental impact of cultivating the microalgae biomass is currently under study, along with optimizing the process and necessary protocols.

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. (ILU);

Schroeder Winkelmann GbR

Funding: DFG (VIPER GRK)

Project Details:
The aim of the project was to identify mechanisms of immune interference of canine distemper virus (CDV) in cells of innate immunity, in particular with regard to the antagonization of the innate antiviral immune response. For this purpose, different primary cell cultures were created from canine isolated immune cells and infected with different strains of CDV. The focus of the work was on alveolar macrophages, as these cells play a crucial role as primary target cells of the virus after aerogenic CDV infection and are furthermore essential for the maintenance of alveolar homeostasis. Differences in the response of immune cells to CDV infection were investigated using immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR, virus titration, RNA sequencing and assays to quantify cell death and viability.

Results:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39796262/

Cooperation Partners:

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Genomanalytik (Robert Geffers)

Funding: EU, 215.581 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out at DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
The DIL leads the work package that focuses on optimising and up-scaling ultrasound (US). Firstly, an extensive literature review on microbial decontamination by US in food and model systems was conducted. It was found that manothermosonication (MTS), a technology that combines mild thermal treatment, elevated pressure, and sonication, is the most promising approach and a potential alternative to traditional thermal pasteurisation of liquid whole egg. Consequently, the DIL developed an MTS prototype that can be used for experimental work with Salmonella Enteritidis. The results showed that MTS can provide the same level of food safety as conventional pasteurisation but with a lower thermal load, suggesting potential food quality benefits confirmed by work on physico-chemical, functional, and protein properties. In addition, sustainability studies using the life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology revealed a lower energy demand in MTS pasteurisation. As a final part of the project, a computational fluid dynamics simulation will be performed to design industrial MTS treatments for continuous application.

Cooperation Partners:

External cooperation partners:

Wageningen University, L-Università ta' Malta,

University of Reading,

Elea Vertriebs- und Vermarktungsgesellschaft mbH,

Leibniz Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.,

Sociedade de Estudos de Analise Sensorial a Produtos Alimentares,

Stichting Wageningen Research,

Hyperbaric,

Arla Foods,

Unilever Research and Development Vlaardingen BV,

Koninklijke Euroma BV,

Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.

Funding: BMEL, ERA-NET, 117.043 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out on DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
With CLIMAQUA an innovative process for the conversion and recycling of aquaculture side streams to feed based on A. platensis is created, which in turn can be used in aquaculture. The aim is to significantly reduce the high greenhouse gas emissions from aquaculture, especially for feed production, by integrating A. platensis into biomass / feed production. Geographical and site-specific features (temperature, length of daylight, etc.) are taken into account in order to obtain an almost completely digestible algae-based feed for salmon and catfish farming and thereby establish a circulatory system that is economically and ecologically sound. In addition, CLIMAQUA examines climate change-related aspects of aquaculture in two regions of the world: The use of innovative technologies in aquaculture is adapted to the climatic conditions and promotes the implementation of sustainable and local food systems.

Project Details:
In this 5-year monitoring-study the density, diversity and community structure of Collembola and Mesostigmata of three different biotope types (oak-hornbeam-mixed forest, drainage ditch (edge), wet meadow) are investigated in the nature reserve Riddagshausen, a Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) area characterized by a small scale mosaic of different habitat types like ponds, meadows, farmland and mixed forests. In each of the biotope types 10 sampling points spaced at least 20 m apart from each other were selected at random. Large spacing was done to avoid spatial autocorrelation, samples therefore were assumed to be independent.
Starting in March 2021 ten soil cores (diameter 5 cm) were taken at each of the biotope types (one soil core per sampling point). The cores were subdivided into two horizons (litter layer, 5 cm mineral soil). The soil cores were used to extract Collembola, Gamasida and soil macrofauna using a modified high gradient canister method (Macfadyen, 1961; Schauermann, 1982). Collembola and Mesostigmata were determined to species level.
Moreover, Collembola species were aggregated into three different functional groups according to their vertical distribution (epedaphic, hemiedaphic, and euedaphic). These groups differ in their dispersal ability and other attributes such reproduction, mobility, metabolic activity and feeding behaviour.
This sampling and identification pattern will be repeated every year (2021-2025) in early spring (March/April).
We expect changes in the soil fauna communities of the investigated biotope types due to strong differences in the amount of precipitation between the years.

Cooperation Partners:

1) Prof. Stefan Scheu, J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen

2) Dr. Bernhard Klarner

Funding: TIB, 5.427 EUR

Project Details:
In relation to the human-induced biodiversity crisis, we are organizing a semester-long elective module in the Bachelor's degree program in Biology on insect diversity in the city with data collection in the urban environment of the students.
Online educational resources (OERs) are created for this module as a guide for both students and lecturers and published on twillo (https://www.twillo.de/oer/web/). The collected data will be published on an online platform (www.colkat.de) and published in an entomological journal.

Results:

https://www.twillo.de/edu-sharing/components/render/199cd171-3733-4e44-9569-46bf7a3f07e6

Funding: Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz (MLLEV), 42.507 EUR

Project Details:
Title: Scientific investigation of seals released in accordance with animal welfare regulations, especially with regard to infectious diseases & zoonotic potentials as well as the scientific training of personnel of the stranding network for the North and Baltic Seas of Schleswig-Holstein
The harbor seal is the most common marine mammal species in Schleswig-Holstein and causes the most call-outs for seal hunters. In the last three decades, seal populations have experienced several major epizootics, but have subsequently grown in size again. In recent years, however, it has been observed that this growth has stagnated and younger seals in particular are disappearing from the populations.
Seals can be carriers of infectious agents such as the Phocine distemper virus, influenza viruses, brucella and erysipelas, some of which can have fatal consequences for the individual animal or the population. These infectious agents are often zoonotic in nature and can promote secondary infections with other pathogens such as Bordetella bronchiseptica or toxoplasmosis.
In addition to comprehensive pathological examinations of the seals, microbiological, virological and parasitological examinations will also be carried out in this project.
Particular attention will be paid to the young animals in order to check whether there may be health related reasons for their decline. For this purpose, a representative number of all seals handed in by seal hunters from the North and Baltic Seas will be selected and subjected to complete post-mortems and further examinations.
The scientific findings will be directly incorporated into the work of the seal hunters, who will receive regular training in the detection of diseases and the handling of marine mammals. Hygiene measures and documentation materials will be developed and reviewed, and accident prevention training will be provided. To this end, a scientific exchange with the seal hunters will take place throughout the entire research project period.

Funding: Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH, Geesthacht, 16.660 EUR

Project Details:
The Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, ITAW, will support Hereon in this project as a subcontractor in the execution of the following tasks with expert services on the impacts of large offshore wind farms on the overall ecological-economic context in the North and Baltic Seas.
-Overview of the obligations arising from the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the status of the indicators.
-Large-scale shifts in marine mammal abundance as a result of avoidance responses to the presence of large-scale OWPs.
-Possible population effects for various marine mammals in the North Sea and Baltic Sea due to habitat loss and health risks from large-scale OWPs in Germany and neighboring countries.
-Effects of underwater noise on marine mammals from blasting, OWP construction and shipping.
-Increased human impact on marine mammals in OWP-free areas due to the accumulation of anthropogenic activities that cannot take place in OWP areas (e.g. fishing, shipping, sand and gravel extraction).
Identification of future research needs, in particular:
-Quantification of possible effects on the occurrence of various marine mammals in the OWP area (density effects).
-Effects of blasting, pile driving and construction and supply vessels on marine mammals.
-Research into possible effects and effect-reducing potentials of larger wind turbines and other wind turbine and OWP designs on marine mammals.

Cooperation Partners:

Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH, Geesthacht

Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten, Münster

Thünen-Institut für Seefischerei, Bremerhaven

Funding: Cusanus-Werk, 15.950 EUR

Project Details:
Etwa 30% aller Epilepsie-Patienten gelten als pharmakoresistent, d.h. sie zeigen Anfälle trotz optimal eingesetzter Anfallssuppressiva (Antiepileptika). Klinisch angewendete Alternativen zur systemischen Pharmakotherapie sind limitiert, z.B. die chirurgische Fokusresektion durch multifokale Epilepsien oder durch eine unklare Fokuslage. Die Entwicklung alternativer Behandlungsstrategien wie der intrazerebralen Pharmakotherapie mit einer zielgerichteten Modulation fokusferner Schlüsselregionen des epileptischen Netzwerks stellt daher eine bedeutsame Herausforderung in der Epilepsietherapie dar. Unter Umgehung der Blut-Hirn-Schranke können dabei lokal im Gehirn höhere Wirkstoffkonzentrationen erreicht werden und dabei systemische Nebenwirkungen minimiert werden. Ziel des Projekts ist die Weiterentwicklung der intrazerebralen Mikroinfusion rational ausgewählter Wirkstoffe mit unterschiedlichem Wirkmechanismus zur zielgerichteten Behandlung pharmakoresistenter Epilepsien. In dieser präklinischen Studie wird das für den Hund eingesetzte Anfallssuppressivum Imepitoin intrasubthalamisch infundiert und die Effekte auf Anfallsschwellen unf Verhalten untersucht.

Results:

Publication in prep.

Funding: EU Commission, 724.000 EUR

Project Details:
Work programme 2023-2024 of the EU Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Christoph Staubach (FLI Riems)