Research

Funding: MWK über Universität Göttingen, 439.500 EUR

Project Details:
Das Projekt befasst sich mit der Auswirkung einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion auf die Integrität der Epithelien im Respirationstrakt, mit besonderem Fokus auf die Spätfolgen der Infektion und die Regenerationsfähigkeit. Hierzu wird ein Langzeitversuch im Hamstermodell durchgeführt, in dessen Rahmen Daten für zwei Kernarbeitspakete generiert werden. Im ersten Arbeitspaket werden Auswirkungen auf das ziliierte Epithel in den luftleitenden Wegen untersucht, während das zweite Arbeitspaket sich mit der Schädigung und Regeneration des Alveolarepithels und der daraus resultierenden Folgen für die Lungenfunktion, den Sauerstoffaustausch und die Belastungstoleranz beschäftigt. Zur Auswertung kommt ein breites Spektrum von Analysemethoden zum Einsatz, inklusive funktioneller, pathologischer, virologischer und molekularbiologischer Methoden. Der holistische Ansatz wird unser Verständnis der Pathogenese der Spätfolgen einer COVID-19-Erkrankung maßgeblich erweitern und stellt eine wichtige Voraussetzung für die Entwicklung von Therapieansätzen dar.

Cooperation Partners:

Universität Göttingen

Funding: DFG, 350.510 EUR

Project Details:
In mammals, brain and neuron size enlarges with increasing head size. Inevitably, an increase in neuron size results in an increased membrane capacitance. To achieve size-independent synaptic integration and, thus, the function, neuronal properties like input resistance, dendritic morphology, synaptic conductance as well as the number and location of ion channels and synapses must scale proportionally. A prerequisite to investigate the cellular mechanisms of such a scaling is an evolutionary conserved neuronal population that fulfills the same circuit function independent of head and brain size. The neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) fulfill these criteria and are involved in binaural processing and spectro-temporal integration in the ascending auditory pathway. Quantification of the biophysical and morphological cellular parameters of MNTB neurons and their synaptic input size as well as channel and synapse location in differently sized mammalian species, i.e. Etruscan shrew, gerbil and rat, allows us to grasp the consequences of brain size-dependent neuron scaling. Our electrophysiological and immunofluorescence findings will culminate in a computational model to understand the functional significances of individual neuronal elements. Moreover, we can utilize this comparative approach to investigate the functional role of MNTB dendrites, which remains largely unknown. Specifically, by quantitatively determining the influence of dendritic synaptic inputs on synaptic latency and the success of action potential generation, we can capture their potential role in the generation of high frequency outputs.

Project Details:
Cooperation strengthens cohesion between animals and is thus a decisive factor for social systems. The present project aims to investigate how individualised relationships - reflected in different types, and amounts, of socio-positive interactions between dyads - shape the social system in a bat model, Carollia perspicillata. A first study will disclose the effects of the interacting individuals, and sex, on cooperative behaviours among bats roosting in stable groups. A second study serves to pinpoint the effect of familiarity on cooperation, using allogrooming and food begging/sharing as paradigms in a series of behavioural experiments. Differences in type, frequency, and duration of interactions, and in the concomitant vocal communication, are expected for experiments with unfamiliar individuals versus those with bats from a given roosting group. The results will contribute to a deeper understanding of how cooperation between individuals may have driven the evolution of bat sociality.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Gerald Kerth,, Zoology and Nature conservation, Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Greifswald

Funding: BLE, 812.500 EUR

Project Details:
Pig diseases and injuries occur in all housing systems. Intensive care or treatment does not always result in healing so that animals have to be killed to avoid further pain or suffering. The Animal Protection Act fundamentally stipulates the protection of animal lives and well-being. In the case of serious diseases or injuries, the deci-sion which subject of protection needs to be preferred is inevitable. For pig farmers, the decision concerning killing an animal is considerably challenging. The aim of this project is to define simply collectable and valid criteria with which the well-being of diseased pigs can be accurately assessed and a responsible, justified decision can be made regarding the killing. The criteria should define the earliest possible time-point in the course of a disease at which an impairment of the well-being for protecting life is no longer acceptable and emergency killing becomes inevitable. The decision regarding the killing requires in addition an ethical evaluation, which includes safeguarding interests of the pig owners. The project should depict the complex process of decision-making concerning the killing of diseased pigs exem-plary for relevant diseases or injuries. Diseased or injured pigs of various age groups should be monitored during the entire course of disease by means of clinical exam-inations and supplementary photo and video documentation in order to generate data sets, which make a decision regarding the killing understandable. Finally, prac-ticable, illness-/injury-specific criteria catalogues should be compiled for livestock pigs and integrated in a training concept. A further aim of the project is to analyse the reasons why pig farmers have wrongly assessed the health status of affected animals. The training concept should therefore directly deal with these reasons.

Cooperation Partners:

ISN Projekt GmbH, Damme

Funding: Biotech Sector, 151.800 EUR

Project Details:
Therapy development

Funding: MWK über Universität Göttingen, 266.300 EUR

Project Details:
Das Mikrobiom der Lunge erfüllt, obwohl signifikant kleiner als das des Darms, eine bedeutende Funktion bei der Regulation der lokalen Immunantwort. Aktuelle Studien zeigten außerdem das SARS-CoV-2 Infektionen bei Betroffenen zu einer Veränderung in der Zusammensetzung des Lungenmikrobioms führen. Im Rahmen des Projektes soll untersucht werden, ob eine durch eine gezielte Manipulation des Lungenmikrobioms ausgelöste Verschiebung der Typ-1-Interferon-Reaktivität in der Lunge die systemische Anfälligkeit für eine SARS-CoV-2-Infektion beeinflusst. Während in der ersten Phase eine genauere Untersuchung der Rolle des Lungenmikrobioms bei der Regulation der homöostatischen Immunantwort erfolgt, wird in der zweiten Phase des Projektes darauf aufbauend die Rolle der Lungenmikrobiota bei der Regulierung der lokalen und systemischen Immunantwort im Rahmen einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion untersucht. Wenn die in diesen Experimenten gewonnen Daten darauf hindeuten, dass Veränderungen im Lungenmikrobiom einen Einfluss auf den Verlauf der Infektion haben, soll in einem letzten Experiment der Einsatz von Probiotika als pharmakologische Behandlung von SARS-CoV-2-Infektion erprobt werden.

Cooperation Partners:

Universität Göttingen

Funding: EIP_Agri, ELER_Fonds Hier investiert Europa in die ländlichen Gebiete mit der Maßnahme: Europäische Innovationspartnerschaft Mit dieser Maßnahme wird die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Landwirtschaft, Ernährungswirtschaft und Wissenschaft unterstützt. Ziel ist die Durchführung von Projekten, die zu Innovationen und einer Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit in der Landwirtschaft führen., 482.195 EUR

Project Details:
The project "DEALS- Decontamination with alternative methods as a hurdle concept on carcasses and cuts of pork, broiler and turkey"" investigates the combined application of several innovative decontamination methods in connection with meat production. The aim is to reduce the number of carcasses to be discarded (resource conservation) and to improve or ensure the food safety of the meat (consumer protection). For this purpose, plasma water as well as UV-C treatment, the application of starter cultures and the newer application of plasma water in the form of EWNS (engineeres water nano structures) are to be used. Step by step these decontamination methods will be applied in vitro on pure cultures of relevant microorganisms, on carcass surfaces of pigs, broilers and turkeys, and finally on meat cuts. Within the project, a prototype for the combined application of the methods is to be developed in cooperation with the HAWK, which has already proven itself in another EiP project. The close exchange with the OG partners from the downstream primary production (slaughterhouses) is particularly essential for the practical implementation of the ideas."

Cooperation Partners:

HAWK- Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim. Göttingen, Holzminden;

Schlachtbetrieb Mario Klos;

Lohmann & Co.AG

Funding: Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, 273.008 EUR

Project Details:
Currently, broiler barns are usually built with one single outer shell. This building design comes with several problems. The first problem is ensuring a sufficient amount of air supply. The second problem is high energy and water requirements. If the speed and volume of the incoming air is insufficient, the cold air will fall directly into the animal area. This causes hypothermia of the animals and an increase in litter moisture. The main reason for insufficient air supply is insufficient negative pressure. Reasons for insufficient negative pressure are leaks in the outer shell and an increased use of gas cannons with warm air blowers.
In this project, a new building design with two outer shells is built and tested. This new type of building should lead to an optimal, constant climate in the barn so that the animals are not exposed to strong climatic fluctuations. Furthermore, the construction and the more constant barn climate enable considerable savings in gas, electricity and water.

Cooperation Partners:

Stalltuning GmbH

Praxisbetrieb

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 554.060 EUR

Project Details:
Bacterial diarrhoeal diseases in pigs are of great economic importance, affect animal welfare in all age groups and contribute significantly to the use of antibiotics in pig. Of the seven Brachyspira species found in pigs, most diarrhoeal diseases are triggered by the species Brachyspira hyodsenteriae (BHY) and Brachyspira pilosicoli (BPI). Treatment of diarrhoea caused by brachyspiral infections is very time-consuming and only a small number of microbial agents are approved for treatment. The significance of differences in the pathogenic potential of different bacterial isolates and the influence of the genetic background of the pig is still unknown. Therefore, a reassessment of the brachyspirial infection to improve the animal welfare and reduce the use of antibiotics is needed. Consequently, the aim of the present project is to understand the pathogenesis of Brachyspira using our established in vitro intestinal organoid model. In addition, the influence of different Brachyspira species and the influence of different genetic backgrounds of the pigs will be investigated.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz, 252.002 EUR

Project Details:
Viruses can be inactivated in the airborne state and additionally in heated filter elements without using chemical processes (ozonization, ionization) and without producing toxic waste (mercury from UVC lamps). However, information about the use of short time heat exposition to inactivate airborne viruses are very scarce. Information about synergistic effects of temperature and pressure on airborne viruses in ventilation systems are still lacking. Therefore, studying the effects of both, heat and pressure on the infectivity of virus aerosols will help to increase the understanding of virus stability in air.
This subproject aims to study the effect of both, heat and pressure on airborne test viruses in an energyefficient
machine-optimized system operating with air exchange rates that are sufficient to clean air in open space offices, for instance.

Cooperation Partners:

SCHEER Heizsysteme & Produktionstechnik GmbH

Chausseestraße 6, D-25797 Wöhrden

Projektkoordinator: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Constantin Kinias