Research

Funding: DFG, 45.000 EUR

Project Details:
Evolution and ecology of RNA-viruses in small mammels

Funding: DFG, 45.000 EUR

Project Details:
Role of adipose tissue as a silent reservoir for respiratory virus replication

Funding: Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, 215.957 EUR

Project Details:
The project aims to develop an innovative in vitro model that mimics the changes in neurodevelopment
induced by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This model serves two main purposes: to better
characterize the fundamental processes of neurodevelopment affected by IUGR, and to test the efficacy
and safety of new neuroprotective therapies. As part of a collaboration, a method transfer from our
laboratory to Hannover will be conducted. This transfer allows the developed model to be established and
validated in a broader research environment. The project develops a human cell-based in vitro model that
enables the assessment of IUGR-induced changes in neurodevelopment in the basic functions of
neurogenesis, without the use of experimental animals. This model replaces the current animal model, in
which IUGR is induced by surgical intervention or dietary restriction in vivo. In our laboratory, a special focus is placed on measuring the network activity of neurospheres. This analysis provides deeper insights into the functional effects of IUGR on neuronal development and connectivity. By combining the method transfer to Hannover and the specialized analysis of network activity in our laboratory, the project aims to achieve a comprehensive characterization of IUGR-induced neurodevelopmental changes. This forms the basis for the development and evaluation of new neuroprotective strategies.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Marta Barenys, Ph.D., Bf3R, BfR, Berlin

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 449.000 EUR

Project Details:
In the "zukunft.niedersachsen" program, Cluster 2 "Digital Teaching Hub Lower Saxony" was funded in the funding line Hochschule.digital Niedersachsen: Pillar B - Studies and Teaching. The TiHo is involved in two sub-projects in this cluster. These are the sub-project "Cooperation of services in the field of digital teaching (Media didactics)" and "AI in studies, teaching and examinations".

Cooperation Partners:

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig

Ostfalia Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften

Technische Universität Clausthal

Hochschule Emden/Leer

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Universitätsmedizin Göttingen

Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover

Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover

Hochschule Hannover

Stiftung Universität Hildesheim

HAWK Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

Universität Osnabrück

Hochschule Osnabrück

Universität Vechta

Jade Hochschule Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth

Funding: MWK Niedersachsen und Leibniz-Gesellschaft, 2.390.000 EUR

Project Details:
Emerging infectious diseases keep arising and remain a major threat to human health. Most of the emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic and originate in wildlife animals. The increasing emergence of novel zoonoses is often attributed to land-use change and in particular to agricultural expansion. However, the interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment requires specific adaptations that have largely remained enigmatic. The Leibniz ResearchCampus EcoPaths will apply principles of evolutionary ecology to gain a causal understanding of the mechanisms that allow zoonotic pathogens to persist, multiply, and cycle in the environment outside of the human host. Through a highly integrative approach, ecological drivers of the evolution of Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecium / E. faecalis, as well as Porcine Coronaviruses will be studied. The three emerging groups of zoonotic pathogens feature different host ranges, genetic variability, and transmission rates, and hence are exemplary for different life strategies. The Leibniz ResearchCampus EcoPaths is the first consortium to merge the complementary expertises of the six institutions DSMZ, DPZ, TU Braunschweig, TiHo, Thünen Institute, and HZI in the fields of bacterial cultivation, comparative genomics, molecular evolution, prokaryotic biochemistry and regulation, molecular epidemiology, immunology and infection biology. This will enable the partners to closely collaborate in the elucidation of (1) the persistence and (2) cellular responses of pathogens in the environment, and (3) the role of the animal host as reservoir and source of environmental cycling, and to address particularly innovative aspects including the analysis of historic reservoirs based on ancient DNA, modelling the ecological niches of pathogens, determining in situ growth rates, and analysing biotic interactions of pathogens in microbiomes. As long-term objectives, EcoPaths strives to contribute towards the identification of the main pathogen reservoirs, to improve monitoring of pathogens and their transmission routes, and to aid in the development of mitigation strategies for zoonoses. EcoPaths will offer interdisciplinary training opportunities in a topical research field to its PhD students, and a dedicated, specific career development program for young postdoctoral researchers.

Cooperation Partners:

DSMZ Braunschweig, TU Braunschweig, HZI Braunschweig, DPZ Göttingen, vTI Braunschweig

Funding: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, 743.359 EUR

Project Details:
As top predators, marine mammals play a crucial role in the ecosystem, as they regulate and maintain marine food webs, promote the biodiversity of the marine environment and contribute to the overall maintenance of the ecological balance. The protection of their habitats and the conservation of the biodiversity of marine mammals is of great importance and can contribute to the long-term health of the entire marine ecosystem.
Against the background of increasing or shifting populations of marine mammals, lower life expectancy and the increase in anthropogenic activities, threats and conflicts caused by stressors are also increasing, including fishing (bycatch, entanglement, overfishing, habitat degradation), shipping traffic (noise, collisions, pollution), offshore wind energy projects (noise, habitat loss, increasing shipping traffic), raw material extraction, sand and gravel mining and tourism.
Scientifically robust concepts and high-quality data are required to assess the status in order to adopt measures that will subsequently lead to a good conservation status of the respective populations of marine mammal species. To ensure that this data is available as comprehensively, comparably and are-wide as possible regional coordination of monitoring and the indicators used for evaluation is essential.
The aim of this research project is to develop recognized indicators based on reliable data in order to reliably assess the status of marine mammals in the North and Baltic Seas. These indicators are to be defined and coordinated at both regional and national level, which is also stipulated by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Various approaches for assessing the status of biodiversity within the framework of the MSFD are being developed, improved and harmonized at international, regional and national level. The indicators are used nationally, regionally and internationally in marine conservation agreements (relevant for Germany: Oslo-Paris Commission (OSPAR) and Helsinki Commission (HELCOM)) by numerous committees and working groups (e.g. under the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)).
The ITAW plays a leading role in these committees, for example as head of the expert groups and in the development of indicators.
In this way, the project is generating evaluation methods, models, basic knowledge that can be used in the long term, and urgently needed knowledge on options for action, which is required for the implementation of political and social objectives, for example under the (MSFD).

Funding: EU-Interreg, Bavarian Nordic, 270.000 EUR

Project Details:
Ticks transmit various human and animal pathogens. With regard to pathogens, the vector function of ticks for the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex), human and animal granulocytic anaplasmosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE virus) is of particular importance. Studies on the abundance and distribution of ticks and their pathogens are therefore essential for assessing the One Health risk. Regarding tick-transmitted pathogens, this project collects data not only for Germany but also at the international level.

Results:

Rapp, J., Springer, A., Strube, C. (2024) Ixodes ricinus ticks survive flooding.  Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 15, 102417

 

Springer, A., Jordan, D., Höltershinken, M., Barutzki, D., Strube, C. (2024) Endemisation and management of Babesia divergens on a beef production farm. Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases 6, 100188

 

Springer, A., Lindau, A., Probst, J., Fachet, K., Schäfer, I., Dobler, G., Mackenstedt, U., Strube, C. (2024) Germany-wide Citizen Science study reveals spread of Babesia canis-infected Dermacentor reticulatus ticks by dogs travelling within the country. Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases 6, 100d187

 

Probst, J., Springer, A., Fingerle, V., Strube, C. (2024) Frequency of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp. and coinfections in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from dogs and cats in Germany. Parasites & Vectors 17, 87

 

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

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. O. Kahl, tick-radar GmbH

Prof. Dr. U. Mackenstedt, Universität Hohenheim

Dr. V. Fingerle, Nationales Referenzzentrum für Borrelien, Oberschleißheim

Prof. Dr. G. Dobler, Nationales Konsiliarlabor für FSME, München

Dr. L. Chitimia Dobler, Fraunhofer-Institut für Immunologie, Infektions- und Pandemieforschung

Funding: QS-Wissenschaftsfonds, 34.980 EUR

Project Details:
As part of the project, a practical feeding concept will be developed that utilizes a protein-rich by-product stream from insect production and, while taking ecological and economic aspects into account, enhances food safety by reducing zoonotic pathogens in fresh poultry products.

Funding: Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung, 25.000 EUR

Project Details:
Alternative ingredients such as plants or insects as substitutes for meat in (vegetarian or vegan) meat products have been increasingly researched in recent years and are already being used in some commercial products. Algae are also an interesting alternative to meat, as they are also high in protein. A distinction is made between microalgae and macroalgae. Scientific studies with microalgae species such as Chlorella spp. or Spirulina spp. as meat substitutes in meat products have shown that their addition has an influence on physicochemical parameters, especially colour. Since the studies published to date have mostly used only one microalgae species in a few concentrations with one type of meat (mostly pork), the proposed project aims to produce cooked sausages from two different microalgae species, Chlorella spp. or Spirulina spp. in different concentrations to replace the meat content, varying the type of meat replaced (pork, beef, chicken). In addition to physicochemical parameters such as pH value or colour, microbiological parameters (after inoculation, if applicable) will also be examined during storage in a protective gas atmosphere in order to evaluate the influence of meat replacement by microalgae during storage in retail outlets.

Funding: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and German Aerospace Center (DLR), 130.000 EUR

Project Details:
The high-energy cosmic radiation has a decisive influence on all manned space missions. The effect of this radiation on the model organism Trichoplax adhaerens (Placozoa) will be investigated in this project. Placozoans are the most simply organized multicellular animals and can give us crucial clues about the effect of cosmic radiation on humans.

Cooperation Partners:

Patrick Humbert, La Trobe University, Australia

Jens Hauslage, DLR, Köln