Research

Funding: Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung, 25.000 EUR

Project Details:
The decontamination of surfaces in the food industry poses major challenges for food manufacturers. On the one hand, the decontamination method must be effective; on the other hand, it must not negatively affect the properties of the food, which usually comes into contact with the cleaned surface. Chemical disinfectants are often effective, but they carry the risk of leaving residues that can be transferred to the food. Alternative sterilization methods, such as various types of radiation, often do not reach all corners and niches. Microorganisms can then settle in these risk areas and form biofilms under certain conditions. If the microorganisms colonize in biofilms, cleaning becomes even more challenging, as the matrix formed acts as a protective film. The proposed project therefore aims to investigate the potential of cold plasma as a disinfectant for cleaning surfaces in the food industry. Cold plasma can be applied directly to surfaces as PPA (plasma processed air) or converted into PAW (plasma activated water) and applied in a similar way to a disinfectant solution. Reactive species (charged molecules, ions, free electrons, radicals, and photons) have a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity in both processes. Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus (pathogens), E. coli (hygiene parameter), and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (spoilage organism) will be used as model organisms in this research project. First, the effect of both plasma variants on the individual germs will be investigated in vitro to determine adequate exposure times and device settings. Subsequently, various food contact surfaces (stainless steel, plastic, and glass plates) will be inoculated with the model organisms and treated with plasma or plasma water to analyze corresponding matrix effects. In a further work package, the potential of both plasma variants for destroying biofilms is investigated. Pseudomonads are very persistent germs in food businesses that can colonize surfaces, corners, and niches, where they form slimy biofilms. This biofilm matrix can subsequently lead to the colonization of pathogenic germs such as Listeria monocytogenes or Staphylococcus aureus. A model for the cultivation of such biofilms on the corresponding surfaces is therefore being established. After successful cultivation, it will be investigated whether plasma treatment is capable of damaging or destroying these biofilms.

Cooperation Partners:

emeritierter Direktor des Max-Planck-Institutes für Extraterrestrische Physik und jetzigem CEO der terraplasma GmbH, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. G. Morfill, und dessen Mitarbeitern in Garching bei München, hinsichtlich der technischen Ausgestaltung des Plasmagerätes

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: DFG, 1.036.748 EUR

Project Details:
Mosquito-borne viruses remain a significant and underestimated public health challenge across Africa, affecting approximately 70% of the population of continental Africa. Among the most concerning pathogens transmitted by *Aedes* mosquitoes are yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), while Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), transmitted by both *Culex* and *Aedes* species, poses an additional threat. Despite their substantial impact, the ecology of these viral agents remains poorly understood, particularly in West and Central Africa. Consequently, evidence-based risk assessments and the development of effective control strategies are urgently needed, yet currently challenging.

Interestingly, the distribution of the primary vectors for these viruses appears relatively homogeneous across many African countries. However, disease incidence varies dramatically: high in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon, but extremely low or absent in others like Benin. To address this discrepancy, our project *EcoVir* investigates whether genetic or behavioral differences among local populations of *Aedes aegypti*, *Aedes albopictus*, and *Culex quinquefasciatus* might contribute to the observed variation in disease prevalence.

In the three selected countries—Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa; high prevalence of arboviral diseases and ongoing outbreaks), Gabon (Central Africa; high natural prevalence of arboviruses, irregular outbreak patterns), and Benin (West Africa; very few reported arboviral cases, no outbreaks)—we will first harmonize clinical diagnostics for DENV, YFV, ZIKV, CHIKV, and RVFV. This will enable the generation of comparable datasets to accurately assess the true prevalence of arboviral infections in local populations.

Additionally, we will collect mosquitoes of the three target species at established trapping sites for analysis of viral prevalence in vectors and for population genetic studies. The data generated within the *EcoVir* network will significantly improve diagnostics, surveillance, and control of arboviruses in West and Central Africa. The program also includes extensive training networks, providing comprehensive scientific capacity building for young African researchers.

Results:

https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/443155432

Cooperation Partners:

Universität Tübingen, Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Cote d´Ivoire (CSRS), Université d'Abomey-Calavi Benin

Funding: H. Wilhelm Schaumann Stiftung, 54.400 EUR

Project Details:
Die Gesundheit von Pferden ist das wichtigste Ziel von Tiermedizin und Zucht. Allerdings werden Gesundheitsmerkmale bisher noch nicht auf wissenschaftlicher Forschungsgrundlage als Selektionskriterien in der Zucht genutzt. Um gezielte züchterische Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Pferdegesundheit ergreifen zu können, ist somit eine standardisierte Datenerhebung nötig. Diese solide Datenbasis soll in einer zentralen Gesundheitsdatenbank, welche seit 2014 von der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung e.V. (FN) in Planung ist, zusammengetragen werden und somit der Forschung als wissenschaftliche Grundlage dienen. Diese Dissertation konzentriert sich zwar auf die Köruntersuchungen, behält sich aber die Ausdehnung der Ergebnisse, vor allem des letzten Teils der Dissertation, auf alle weiteren Untersuchungen am Pferd, insbesondere der Kaufuntersuchungen, vor.
Im ersten Teil der Dissertation soll ein Status quo hinsichtlich der Untersuchungen der Köraspiranten erhoben werden, indem die verschiedenen Köruntersuchungsprotokolle der jeweiligen FN-Mitgliedsverbände verglichen werden und eine Vereinheitlichung versucht wird. Daraufhin werden in dem zweiten Teil, der retrospektiven Befunderhebung, die Daten der letzten Jahrgänge in die bereits bestehende Datenbank der Vereinigten Informationssysteme Tierhaltung w.V. (vit) eingepflegt. Anschließend folgt eine erste statistische Auswertung der Daten, welche u.a. hinsichtlich der insgesamt vorkommenden Befunde und Inzidenzen erörtert wird. Zuletzt soll als prospektive Originalarbeit in Form eines Fragebogens eine Strategie zur Optimierung der Datenweiterleitung der Tierärzte an die zentrale Gesundheitsdatenbank für Pferde erarbeitet werden.
Zusammengefasst sollen die Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation standardisierte Untersuchungen von Köraspiranten erzielen, eine gewisse Datenbasis in der zentralen Gesundheitsdatenbank für Pferde schaffen und zugleich eine optimierte Nutzung dieser bewirken.

Project Details:
Kniegelenkserkrankungen kommen bei Pferden regelmäßig vor. Bei der ultrasonographischen Untersichung ihrer Menisken entstehen akustische Artefakte, die mit krankhaften Befunden verwechselt werden können. In dieser Studie sollen ultrasonographische Befunde an Menisken von Pferden ohne Kniegelenkserkrankung mit anatomischen und feingeweblichen Befunden verglichen werden, um eine bessere Abgrenzung zwischen normalen Ultraschall-Befunden mit den üblichen akustischen Artefakten einerseits und pathologischen Veränderungen andererseits zu ermöglichen. Durch eine Einteilung der Präparate in verschiedene Lebensaltersgruppen wird zudem eine Einordnung alterungsbedingter morphologischer Veränderungen am Meniskus erwartet.

Results:

Geburek, F., Bodem, L., Staszyk, C.

Tears or Artifacts? Comparison between normal ultrasound and macro-anatomy of the medial femorotibial meniscus.

In: Scientific Abstracts of the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the ECVS. Vet. Surg. 2020, 49(S2), p. O195

https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13478

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. C. Staszyk, Institut für Veterinär-Anatomie, -Histologie und -Embryologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Funding: DFG Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1270 (2017-2025) ‘Electrically Active Implants’ ELAINE.

Project Details:
Der dtsz Hamster ist ein hervorragend charakterisiertes Modell für die Dystonie, der Gendefekt ist jedoch nicht bekannt. Eine Identifikation des Effektes ist wichtig zum Verständnis der Pathophysiologie der Dystonie und zur Therapieentwicklung. In diesem Projekt werden Genom und Transkriptom des Modells sequenziert und auf Gendefekte hin untersucht.

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), 458.064 EUR

Project Details:
Based on the results of the joint research project, the proposed interdisciplinary follow-up project aims to develop a customised hip prosthesis made of the additively processed titanium alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb (Ti67) with multi-biofunctional surface areas.The biocompatibility and load-compatible design of the implant are achieved by parameter adjustments in powder bed-based selective laser beam melting (LPBF) to create porous as well as geometrically defined surfaces with subsequent PVD thin films. The systems TiN, TiCN, and a-C:Ag, which were investigated in the first funding period, will be used as thin film material, as they differ fundamentally and allow local adaptation of the surface properties. By adding copper, higher strength, ductility, and anisotropy of the additively processed Ti67 are to be adjusted. In addition, the influence of copper on coatability and biocompatibility is addressed. To adjust the stiffness and surface properties locally, the process parameters of the LPBF process are varied so that areas of different porosity and roughness can be produced. In the additively manufactured hip prosthesis, the femoral head and acetabulum are in tribological contact, so the acetabulum possesses bone-like properties by having a porous inner and dense outer structure, while the ceramic femoral head is attached modularly to the hip stem. Since a mechanical support effect of the substrate material is required for PVD thin films, the extent to which the porous inner structure affects the friction and wear behaviour of the coated Ti67 parts is investigated. The interaction between the surface properties of the additively processed Ti67 and the applied PVD thin films as well as the influence on the mechanical, biocompatible and corrosion behaviour are the focus of the investigations. In the area of the hip shaft, it is expected that the porous structures and defined surface roughness in combination with a PVD thin film will lead to bone cell growth being stimulated while at the same time preventing biofilm formation. To be able to specifically adapt the influence of the thin films on the different implant areas, bioassays (including the establishment of Western-Blot-Investigations for the early characterisation of the influence of the thin film on signalling cascades in the cells) are being established in-vitro. In addition, infection scenarios are planned to simulate and control the influence of thin films on bacterial colonisation. With the knowledge gained, a prosthesis true to reality with defined roughness and porosity, including PVD thin film, will be manufactured and tested close to the application. This will verify and demonstrate the potential of the presented approach.

Results:

https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/415285024?language=de

Project Details:
-

Cooperation Partners:

Zentrum für systemische Neurowissenschaften (ZSN), Hannover

Institut für Neuroimmunologie und Multiple-Sklerose-Forschung (IMSF) der Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen

Funding: QS-Wissenschaftsfonds, vertreten durch die Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, Bonn, 39.000 EUR

Project Details:
Animal welfare and animal health are increasingly becoming the focus of research and consumer attention. As a result, there are calls in many areas for a central animal health database. Standardized data collection already exists in numerous areas, but there is no central database or comprehensive evaluation. For the first time, data from cattle farms that are members of Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH from 2023 and 2024 will be evaluated jointly. The data comes from the areas of biosecurity, animal husbandry, antibiotic use and slaughter findings. For joint evaluation, the data is first linked and evaluated descriptively.

Cooperation Partners:

Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, Bonn

Funding: Aarhus University, Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE), 27.329 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to process the survey data from the summer period and aggregate the quality-checked data for the Belt-Sea-Region in the period 2005-2024; or a period close to that depending on data and model checking. An extraction of relevant environmental covariates, describing the habitat of harbour porpoises, and a fit of a species distribution model (generalized additive model GAM) is planned. The final selected model enables the spatial prediction of the harbour porpoise summer density in the study area. Subsequently, a model validation, estimation of the model error and confidence intervals is planned. Finally, a short technical report will be written to describe the method and the results with a focus on Danish Belt-Sea-Region.