Research

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:
Etruscan shrews need to constantly hunt to meet their energy requirements; because of their small body size, their relative energy consumption is very large. To efficiently hunt in close range, these animals rely especially on tactile sensory cues. However, for long-range detection of prey these animals likely use their well-developed hearing. Due to their small body and head size, these animals are expected to hear in frqeuncy range above 5 kHz and therefore are an ideal model system to investigate high frequency hearing and adaptations to miniaturization of mammalian neuronal circuits. We attempt to describe their auditory brainstem strucutes by applying structural and functional markers. After the initial anatomical characterization we will use electrophysiological techniques to comparatively study the properties of adutiory brainstem neurons. Thereby we will focus on biophysical and synaptic size adaptations within conserved neuronal circuits.

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG), 110.700 EUR

Project Details:
Tetraspanins are evolutionary conserved integral membrane proteins of 200-350 amino acid lengths. Through their large extracellular loop they mediate protein - protein and protein - lipid interactions in cellular membranes thereby shaping membrane microdomains called ?tetraspanin webs?. In humans and mice 33 tetraspanins are described and mosquito species express at least 15 tetraspanin orthologs. In mammalian cells, tetraspanins are host co-factors for several viruses including papillomaviruses, influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV-1 and coronaviruses (Gerold et al., 2015; Bruening et al. 2018; Banse et al., 2018; Alberione et al. 2020; Palor et al., 2020). For hepatitis C virus, colleagues and we showed that the tetraspanin CD81 is a host range determining factor (Vogt et al. 2013; Scull et al., 2015; von Schaewen et al., 2016).
The proposed project aims at characterizing in detail, which of the 33 human tetraspanins in addition to CD81 are host factors for alphaviruses and whether tetraspanins from reservoir species, dead end host species and transmitting mosquito vectors serve as host factors of alphaviruses. Thereby the work will contribute to the understanding of the molecular composition and function of alphavirus replication complexes and determine the role of tetraspanins in species range, transmission and consequently emergence of alphaviruses.

Funding: Europäische Union, Europäischer Landwirtschaftsfonds für die Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums - ELER, 179.500 EUR

Project Details:
Abstract:
The consequences of climate change are reflected in rising temperatures and, at the same time, more frequent extreme weather conditions. This has direct consequences for agriculture. Long-term high temperatures not only put a strain on people, but also on farm animals. Against the background of the predicted longer periods of heat in the coming summers, an adapted climate management for all barn and husbandry types is one of the central adaptation tasks in the course of climate change.
At the same time, farms face the challenge of reducing ammonia emissions. This not only aims at improving the nitrogen utilization and thus at resource-saving and efficient fertilization, but also in particular at the pollution of the environment through N-deposits from the air (over-fertilization and acidification) and human health through secondary dusts that accumulate can form from ammonia.
In addition, the responsibility of the animal owner for the well-being of his animals is at the center of the social discourse on the future of the agricultural and food industry. In animal and barn management, care must be taken to ensure that optimal husbandry and feeding conditions prevail in order to prevent diseases.
In order to meet these challenges at the same time, the aim of "Mee(h)r im Stall" is to test an integrative climate system that reduces the challenges and fields of action outlined for agricultural operations
1. Of temperature peaks in the course of climate change in livestock stalls
2. Ammonia levels in the stable air
3. Fine dust levels in the stable room and
4. the germ pressure
equally and successfully addressed via an air conditioning application in poultry fattening houses.

So far, there has been no system in livestock husbandry that takes all of the challenges outlined into account at the same time. In "Mee(h)r im Stall" an integrative air conditioning system is used, which connects two technical systems that are already used effectively in other economic contexts (e.g. slaughter, food processing, beverage and pharmaceutical industry, hospital) by means of "intelligent" switching and control technology and thus addresses the four outlined fields of action for poultry farmers in a needs-oriented manner and at the same time focuses on the working conditions for workers in the barn.
On the one hand, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) nebulization system is used. To date, H2O2 nebulization has mainly been used for disinfection purposes. An ionization process is also used to simultaneously optimize the air quality for animals and people in the barn. The functional principle is very simple: negative and positive ions are generated by the so-called bipolar ionization. These ions convert the oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxides, peroxides and hydroxyls. These electrically charged ions have the property of binding to microparticles in the air and thus clean the air of dust and harmful substances such as mold, viruses, bacteria and allergens. Regardless of the processes mentioned above, one has the subjective feeling of perceiving a sea breeze in the barn. More sea in the stable!

Link:
https://www.uni-vechta.de/meehr-im-stall

Cooperation Partners:

Trafo:agrar

AKE ZentriJet GmbH

Geflügelbetriebe Mahlstedt und Kühter

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: Biotech Sector, 151.800 EUR

Project Details:
Therapy development

Funding: EU, 120.000 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out at DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
The Horizon Europe project ZeroW directly addresses the challenge of food loss and waste by developing and testing an interplay of innovations under real-world conditions. 46 partners from across Europe have joined forces to develop realistic solutions to significantly reduce food waste and accelerate a just transition to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system for all. The DIL is partner of the Living Lab "Mobile food valorisation as a service".

Cooperation Partners:

Inlecom Innovation Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki Etaireia,

Wageningen University,

Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno,

South East Technological University,

Biosense Institute - Research and Development Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems,

Digiotouch Ou,

Eigen Vermogen Van Het Instituut

Voor Landbouw- En Visserijonderzoek,

Safe Food Advocacy Europe,

FBCD AS,

VLTN BV,

Instituto Tecnologico De Aragon,

Konnecta Systems Ltd.,

ITC - Inovacijsko Tehnoloski Grozd Murska Sobota,

Fondazione Istituto Sui Trasporti E La Logistica,

Instituto Tecnologico Del Embalaje,

Transporte Y Logistica,

Asociatia Transilvania It,

Asociatia Clusterul Agro-Food-Ind

Napoca,

Fundacion Corporacion Tecnologica De Andalucia,

Instituto Andaluz De Investigaciony Formacion Agraria Pesquera Alimentaria Y De La Produccion Ecologica,

Agrifood Lithuania Dih,

Sintef As,

Tilburg University,

Novamont Spa,

Mc Shared Services Sa,

Modelo Continente Hipermercados S.A.,

Grupo Empresarial La Cana,

Multiscan Technologies Sl, UAB Art21,

Lietuvos Darzoviu Augintoju Asociacija,

Lietuvos Maisto Eksportuotoju Asociacija (Litmea),

F6S Network Ireland Limited,

F6S Network Ltd.,

Allmicroalgae Natural Products Sa,

Universidade Do Minho,

Erevnitiko Panepistimiako Institouto Systimaton Epikoinonion Kai Ypologiston,

Boerenbond Projecten, Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij,

ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH,

Kmetijsko Gozdarska Zbornica Slovenije Kmetijsko Gozdarski Zavod Murska Sobota, Univerza V Mariboru,

Robin Food,

Asociacion De Investigacion De Industrias Carnicas Del Principado De Asturias,

Aves Nobles Y Derivados,

S.L.,

Termoformas De Levante Sl, Eroski Scoop,

Voedselbank Limburg,

SVZ International Bv,

Konnecta Systems Ike,

Federation Belge Des Banques Alimentaires

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: DFG (VIPER GRK)

Project Details:
The exact pathomechanisms that lead to the development of long-term consequences after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection - also known as long-COVID - are still largely unknown. Since only limited sample material from surviving patients with long-COVID is available, the use of a suitable animal model is essential to investigate the underlying mechanisms. In this project, the Syrian golden hamster was established as a model animal to study the pathogenesis of long-COVID. Initially, a short-term study was conducted to investigate the alveolar regeneration mechanisms, in which a morphological homology to the processes in the human lung after s SARS-CoV-2 infection was found. In a further long-term study over four months, morphological, molecular biological and lung function analyses were combined. The course of the disease in the animals showed three phases: acute, subacute and chronic. While the acute phase was characterized by severe breathing restrictions, these only occurred after exercise in the later phases and disappeared entirely after about 6 weeks. Histologically, there was persistent fibrosis and alveolar bronchiolization with club cell proliferation. Transcriptome analysis showed, among other things, an upregulation of pro-fibrotic genes. In the future, long-term consequences in the brain will be investigated primarily by transcriptome analysis, and the role of the pulmonary neuroendocrine system, which is connected to the central nervous system via afferent nerve fibers, will be examined in more detail.

Results:

Paper 1: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39049-5 ; Nature Communications, 2023

 

Paper 2: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4681343/v1 ; (preprint Version), accepted at Nature Communications, 2025