Research

Funding: DFG, 192.000 EUR

Project Details:
Etwa 3 % der Weltbevölkerung ist chronisch mit dem Hepatitis-C-Virus (HCV) infiziert, welches akute und chronische Lebererkrankungen verursacht. Da ein robustes immunkompetentes Tiermodell zur Entwicklung prophylaktischer oder therapeutischer Impfstoffe noch nicht gefunden werden konnte und der Ursprung des HCV schwer zu fassen ist, rückt das dem HCV am nächsten verwandte Virus, das equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) bei Pferden, mehr in den Fokus. Ein verbessertes Verständnis dieses Viruses ist außerdem für die Pferdemedizin von großer Bedeutung, da gezeigt werden konnte, dass auch EqHV akute und chronische Infektionen verursachen kann.
Grund für diese Ausprägung kann eine fehlende hepatische Toleranz sein, die verhindert, dass dauerhaft infizierte Pferde eine robuste zelluläre Immunität aufbauen können. Daher würde ein erweitertes Wissen über die Mechanismen der hepatischen Toleranz helfen, chronischen Infektionen entgegenzuwirken. Hierauf soll die therapeutische Impfung eine Antwort geben, bei der die MVA basierte Vektor-Impfstoff-Technologie verwendet wird. Dabei exprimiert MVA (modified vaccinia virus Ankara) ausgewählte EqHV-Antigene, welche dann in Impfungen vergleichend analysiert werden, um diejenigen Antigene zu finden, die eine ausgewogene zelluläre und humorale antivirale Immunantwort induzieren.
Ziel ist es hierbei, die Immunantwort gegen EqHV bei chronisch infizierten Pferden und die immunologische Wirkung einer therapeutischen Impfung gegen EqHV bei gesunden Tieren zu untersuchen. Darüber hinaus stellt dieses Projekt auch einen potenziellen Nutzen für die Humanmedizin dar und liefert weitere Hinweise auf den Ursprung von HCV.

Funding: Forschungskreis der Ernährungsindustrie e.V. (FEI), 96.588 EUR

Project Details:
Milk is increasingly criticised by the public for causing various diseases in humans. Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7), which is formed from A1 beta-casein during the digestion of milk, is suggested to be responsible for this. Caseins make up the largest proportion of the protein fraction in milk, accounting for about 80% of the total protein. Four types are distinguished, two different alpha-caseins (αS1 and αS2), as well as kappa- and beta-casein. In domestic cattle, 12 different variants of the beta-casein gene (CSN2) are known so far (A1, A2, A3, B, C, D, E, F, G, H1, H2 and I), of which the A1 and A2 variants are the most significant. At the protein level, the A1 and A2 beta-caseins differ in a single amino acid at position 67 (A1: histidine; A2: proline), which is thought to have a significant influence on the structural and thus also functional properties of the proteins. These can influence both the enteric digestibility of the milk and the technological properties during milk processing. The majority of milk marketed in Germany contains varying amounts of A1 and A2 beta-casein and is referred to as A1 milk. A2 milk, on the other hand, comes from A2/A2 homozygous animals and may not contain A1 beta-casein. The BCM-7 produced from A1 beta-casein may be further degraded to BCM-5, both of which are thought to mediate their effects via - and µ-opioid receptors. In A2 milk, however, the production of these BCM peptides is supposed to be significantly lower, although this assumption is still questionable. In the proposed project, therefore, fundamental questions about the effect of BCM-7 and its occurrence (degradation, formation) in milk and milk products should be answered. Therefore in one part of the project BCM-7 will be added to milk before processing to cheese and yoghurt, in another part milk from A1/A1 and A2/A2 cows will be used for processing. At different steps within the production of the cheese and yoghurt BCM-7 contents will be analysed. In further investigations, physicochemical, sensory and microbiological analyses will be performed to determine the extent to which the different milk genotypes influence the quality of the specific milk products.

Cooperation Partners:

Lehrstuhl für Physiologie (Frau Prof. Cornelia Deeg), Lehrstuhl für Klinische Pharmakologie (Prof. H. Ammer) der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München

Funding: Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein, Tönning, 39.689 EUR

Project Details:
The Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, is unique throughout Europe and the world in certain areas with its locally conducted research. Scientific research focuses on investigation of health (e.g. infectious diseases and zoonoses), behaviour, habitat utilisation (e.g. by telemetry and acoustic monitoring), population trends (e.g. by flight surveys) as well as anthropogenic impacts on marine mammals. The generation and maintenance of marine mammal databases on national and international level is an important focus of work, likewise the statistical evaluation with subsequent modelling in order to answer current research questions.
Investigations of dead and alive marine mammals are performed within the framework of research projects and monitoring programs and a direct contact is maintained with the stranding network and seal rangers. The quality of the marine mammal registration forms developed by the ITAW, supplied by the seal rangers with each animal, can be verified and refined on the basis of necropsies of these collected marine mammals. Every registration form of marine mammals found at the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein completed by the seal rangers will be digitalised and transferred into a database in the context of this project. These data will be pooled annually and analysed in order to assess trends of strandings for the three native marine mammal species as well as to evaluate potential causes. Furthermore, these data will be blended regularly with data of animals investigated at the ITAW. This facilitates a more comprehensive and more objective assessment of the native marine mammal population status. On that point, more complex scientific evaluations can be conducted than before and the gained results can be used directly by responsible authorities for the advancement of existing management plans.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Rahmenprogramm "Forschung für nachhaltige Entwicklungen" (FONA3)), 271.742 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of the trophic ecology of marine mammals, their function within the North Sea food web as well as their ecosystem services.

Marine mammals are especially useful indicators to assess the state of our seas as they reflect changes in marine ecosystems on a large temporal and spatial scale. Being predators of higher trophic levels marine mammals are of ecological, economic and cultural importance. This is an essential baseline to improve management decisions in regard to marine resources and conservation.

The North Sea is currently undergoing a rapid change caused by substantial changes in environmental drivers and human impacts, including climate change. In the southern North Sea, oligotrophication and lower fishing pressure potentially reverse trophic controls. In order to gain a better understanding of the impacts of ongoing changes in food webs and biodiversity, BioWeb aims to analyse long-term datasets of marine mammals, together with other taxonomic groups, such as zooplankton, benthos and fish to integrate these groups into spatially high-resolution food web models of the EcoPath family.

Until now marine mammals have not been represented sufficiently in most ecosystem models. In order to close these knowledge gaps, ITAW will process long-term data sets on abundance and seasonal distribution of key marine mammals (i.e., harbour seal, grey seal and harbour porpoise) in the southern North Sea for integration into the food web model. Additionally, the present preferred prey spectrum needs to be determined since a realistic estimate of biomass consumption, and any change therein, needs to be assessed. ITAW will use complimentary methods to assess the diet of marine mammals, such as conventional stomach content analysis, stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding. This approach will provide conclusions on predator - prey dynamics, trophic interactions and competition with fisheries. Therefore, multiple strategies regarding marine resources management can be evaluated and conservation decision making can be evolved.

Developed scenarios of biodiversity change and its consequences for food webs and the use of biological resources will be communicated to local and regional actors in North Sea coastal communities, including local fisheries, aquaculture, economy, tourism, politics and administration. A case study at ITAW will focus on the transfer of the ecological, economic and cultural value of marine mammals to local stakeholders. Moreover, it will highlight the polarizing discussion about the seal - fisheries conflict.

Results:

Foraging ecology of harbour porpoises, harbour seals and grey seals and their role in the food web of the southern North Sea

https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:95-120630

Cooperation Partners:

Senckenberg am Meer (Koordinatorin BioWeb)

Thünen Institut für Seefischerei

Alfred Wegener Institut, Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, 603.258 EUR

Project Details:
The "DigiPig" experimental field pursues the strategic goal of further developing opportunities for digitisation, knowledge transfer and transformation for broad agricultural practice. Focus is laid on animal-friendly and resource-conserving pig farming, which can be transferred to other farms. A specially developed data model - the farm management software "DigiSchwein" - is intended to support pig farmers in their daily work with the animals.

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

OFFIS e.V.

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut

Georg-August Universität Göttingen

Funding: Intervet Deutschland GmbH, 124.000 EUR

Project Details:
Tick-borne diseases are gaining importance in both human and veterinary medicine. In the course of climate change, a change in tick activity is to be expected and will be investigated in this project. In addition, tick exposure of dogs and cats will be investigated and the prevalence of various pathogens in the ticks collected will be determined.

Results:

Probst, J., Springer, A., Topp, A.-K., Bröker, M., Williams, H., Dautel, H., Kahl, O., Strube, C. (2023) Winter activity of questing ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus) in Germany − Evidence from quasi-natural tick plots, field studies and a tick submission study.  Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 14, 102225

 

Probst, J., Springer, A., Strube, C. (2023) Year-round tick exposure of dogs and cats in Germany and Austria - results from a tick collection study. Parasites & Vectors 16, 70

Funding: DFG, 199.880 EUR

Project Details:
Proanthocyanidins are natural substances that have shorn to exhibit anthelmintic activity against various nematode species in vitro. However, it is unclear which molecular and cellular targets of the parasites are affected by proanthocyanidins. This question, as well as the effectiveness of the natural substances in parasitic infections, will be investigated in the current project.

Results:

François Ngnodandi Belga, F.N., Raulf, M.K., Spiegler, V., Liebau, E., Hensel, A. Strube, C., Ndjonka, D. (2024) In vivo anthelmintic activity of Combretum mucronatum Schumach & Thonn leaf extract against Haemonchus contortus in goats. Veterinary Parasitology 331, 110288

 

Belga, F.N., Waindok, P., Raulf, M.-K., Jato, J., Orman, E., Rehbein, S., Spiegler, V., Liebau, E., Hensel, A. Ndjonka, D., Strube, C. (2024) Phytochemical analysis and anthelmintic activity of Combretum mucronatum leaf extract against infective larvae of soil-transmitted helminths including ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes. Parasites & Vectors 17, 99

 

Jato, J., Waindok, P., Ngnodandi, F.N.B.F., Orman, E., Agyare, C., Bekoe E.O., Strube, C., Hensel, A., Liebau, E., Spiegler, V. (2023) Anthelmintic activities of extract and ellagitannins from Phyllanthus urinaria against Caenorhabditis elegans and zoonotic or animal parasitic nematodes. Planta Medica 89, 1215-1228

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Andreas Hensel, Universität Münster

Prof. Dr. Eva Liebau, Universität Münster

Prof. Dr. Christian Agyare, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana

Prof. Dr. Dieudonne Ndjonka, University of Ngaoundéré, Kamerun

Dr. Emilia Oppong Bekoe, University of Ghana, Ghana

Funding: EU, 1.709.375 EUR

Project Details:
Improved Vaccination Strategies for older Adults

Funding: Europäische Kommission, 252.788 EUR

Project Details:
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a monogenic motoneuron disease with a neuromuscular phenotype resulting in infant death in severe cases. Besides motoneurons in the central nervous system (CNS), there is growing evidence of an involvement of peripheral organs. SMA is caused by reduced Survival of Motoneuron (SMN) protein levels and SMN is ubiquitously expressed. Therefore, SMA patients show reduced SMN levels also in peripheral organs. A restoration of SMN levels in the CNS is a potent therapeutic strategy which led to the approval of two different compounds: Spinraza is an antisense oligonucleotide which increases SMN mRNA, Zolgensma is an adeno-associated virus increasing expression of SMN. However, both strategies focus on the restoration of CNS SMN levels without a sustainable effect on peripheral organs. In 2020, approval of a third drug, Risdiplam, a systemic SMN enhancer, is expected. Although patients greatly benefit from a treatment of the neuromuscular phenotype they face a precarious future: there is no comprehensive landscape of vulnerable organs and no approved treatment for the periphery. We will analyze intrinsic defects in peripheral organs (WP1), evaluate the organ specific molecular and cellular functions of the SMN protein in relevant organs (WP2), and translate these findings to SMA patient derived models, which we will treat with a systemic SMA drug currently under clinical evaluation (WP3). The SMA field involves stakeholders, which allow early stage researchers to personally interact with basic scientists, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies and patient organizations. For our training network, we will combine this vertical integration with a broad perspective on multiple organ systems in SMA. The training strategy assures career options and employability of early stage researchers beyond the SMA field. We will go beyond the motoneuron and identify organs, mechanisms and molecules that could be targets for the peripheral aspects of SMA.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Peter Claus (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)

Funding: DFG, 249.200 EUR

Project Details:
Ziel des Projektes ist die weitergehende Entwicklung der Komponenten und der Nachweis der Funktionsweise einer Implantat-dirigierten Anlieferung von Wirkstoffen auf der Basis magnetischer Prinzipien. Auf diesem Wege soll eine neuartige Möglichkeit etabliert werden, spezifische Wirkstoffe mittels magnetischer Nanopartikel bedarfsabhängig zu einem frei wählbaren Zeitpunkt an magnetisierbaren Implantaten zu akkumulieren und somit die Wirksamkeit bei reduzierter Patientenbelastung zu erhöhen. Die Vision des Projektes ist der Einsatz dieser Technik für verschiedene Implantattypen, die gezielt magnetisiert werden, um temporär Wirkstoffe an den Zielort zu verbringen. Damit sollen die Wirksamkeit der Substanzen erhöht, systemische Nebenwirkungen verhindert und die Anzahl von Implantatrevisionen minimiert werden.

Results:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32861030/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30482189/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31941495/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24112871/

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. P. Behrens (Leibniz-Universität Hannover)

Dr. J. Reifenrath (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)