Research

Funding: DFG, 250.000 EUR

Project Details:
The bovine epithelia-choreal placenta protects the fetus from infections with numerous pathogens. However, some viruses, such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) or bluetongue virus, are able to cross the placenta barrier during pregnancy. In the case of BVDV, diaplacental infection with non-cytopathogenic (ncp) viruses between the 40th and 125th day of gestation is a mandatory prerequisite for the establishment of persistent infections and is therefore of outstanding epidemiological importance. In contrast, infection of pregnant animals with cytopathogenic (cp) BVDV does not lead to the birth of persistently infected offspring.
An important aspect of the placenta's barrier function against pathogens is innate immunity. First, we want to investigate the innate immune response of polarized bovine placenta cells to dsRNA applied to either the basolateral or apical compartment. Moreover, we will examine the efficiency of viral replication and release of BVDV and other bovine viruses, and characterize the innate immune response after basolateral and apical infection.

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: 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: 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: Industry (Veterinary pharmaceuticals/Vaccines), 300.000 EUR

Project Details:
Entwicklung von Endo- und Ektoparasitika

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

Project Details:
The mediation and maintenance of cell polarity are important for the proper functioning of the cell and its surrounding tissue. Gravity is an important signal transmitter in this process. If polarity is lost, for example due to defects in polarity-mediating genes, cancerous growth usually occurs. Due to their complex anatomical and genetic structure, the relevant gene regulatory relationships have not yet been sufficiently characterised.
In this project, changes in gene activity in the simple marine animal <i>Trichoplax adhaerens </i> are being investigated under simulated weightlessness in order to identify polarity genes.
The project is being carried out in cooperation with gravitational biologist Dr Jens Hauslage from the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cologne and Patrick Humbert, Professor of Cancer Biology at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Cooperation Partners:

Deutsches Luft- und Raumfahrtzentrum (DLR);

La Trobe University in Melbourne

Project Details:
Helminth infections influence animal health and thus also production parameters in ruminants. In the course of this project, epidemiological investigations and modelling will provide new insights into the distribution and infection dynamics of lungworms, gastrointestinal worms and liver fluke. At the same time, the influence of these parasitoses on production parameters will be determined and innovative control strategies evaluated.

Results:

Teschner, V., Zablotski, Y., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Bootz, F., Strube, C., Wenzel, C. (2025) Impact of the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi on milk production parameters, β-hydroxybutyrate, fertility and feces consistency in southern German dairy cows. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 58, 101200

 

Leinmueller, M., Adler, F., Campe, A., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Hoedemaker, M., Strube, C., Springer, A., Oehm, A.W. (2024) Animal health as a function of farmer personality and attitude: Using the HEXACO model of personality structure to predict farm-level seropositivity for Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi in dairy cows. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11, 1434612

 

Oehm, A.W., Leinmueller, M., Zablotski, Y., Campe, A., Hoedemaker, M., Springer, A., Jordan, D., Strube, C., Knubben-Schweizer, G. (2023) Multinomial logistic regression based on neural networks reveals inherent differences among dairy farms depending on the differential exposure to Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi. International Journal for Parasitology 53, 687-697

 

Vande Velde, F., Hektoen, L., Phythian, C.J., Rinaldi, L., Bosco, A., Hinney, B., Gehringer, M., Strube, C., May, K., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Martins, O.M.D., Mateus, T.L., Simion, V.E., Charlier, J., Bartley, D.J., Claerebout, E. (2023) Understanding the uptake of diagnostics for sustainable gastrointestinal nematode control by European dairy cattle farmers: a multi-country cross-sectional study. Parasite 30, 4

 

Vanhecke, M., Charlier, J., Hamdi, R., Duchene, F., Strube, C., Claerebout, E. (2022) Associations between Dictyocaulus viviparus bulk tank milk seropositivity correlated with meteorological variables. International Journal for Parasitology 52, 659-665

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. G. Knubben-Schweizer, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Prof. Dr. Edwin Claerebout, Ghent University

Project Details:
Monitoring the epidemiology and prevalence of parasite infections in livestock and companion animals will contribute to a better knowledge of parasite distribution and improved control strategies. Furthermore, new diagnostics will be developed or existing ones improved.

Results:

Rüster, V., Lückemann, A.K., Wittmann, M., Strube, C., Bartels, T. (2023) Successful long-term control of poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) infestations in floor-kept laying hens via integrated pest management - a case report. Parasitology Research 122, 2549-2555

 

Rüster, V., Werner, H., Wieneke, S., Avramidis, G., Ten Bosch, L., Krause, E.T., Strube, C., Bartels, T. (2022) Short-time cold atmospheric pressure plasma exposition can kill all life stages of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, under laboratory conditions. Experimental and Applied Acarology 88, 139-152

 

Vismarra, A., Schnyder, M., Strube, C., Kramer, L. Colombo, L., Genchi, M. (2023) Diagnostic challenges for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection in cats from endemic areas in Italy. Parasites & Vectors 16, 187

 

Hauck, D., Raue, K., Blazejak, K., Hannah, R.M., Elsmore, D.A., Pantchev, N., Strube, C. (2023) Evaluation of a commercial coproantigen immunoassay for the detection of Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats and Uncinaria stenocephala in dogs. Parasitology Research 122, 185-194

 

Waindok, P. Raulf, M.-K., Strube, C. (2022) Potentials and challenges in the isolation and detection ascarid egg in complex environmental matrices. Food and Waterborne Parasitology 28, e00174

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. M. Schnyder, Universität Zürich, Schweiz

Prof. Dr. D. Traversa, Universität Teramo, Italien

Project Details:
Surveys on the epidemiology or prevalence of helminth infections in wildlife will contribute to a better knowledge of parasite distribution and help implementing prevention strategies in terms of the One Health concept. Furthermore, the evaluation of new diagnostic tools will improve health monitoring in wildlife.

Results:

Bisterfeld, K., Raulf, M.-K., Waindok, P., Springer, A., Lang, J., Lierz, M., Siebert, U., Strube, C. (2022) Endoparasites of peritoneal organs and skeletal muscles of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Germany. Parasite & Vectors 17, 473

 

Schütte, K., Springer, A., Brandes, F., Reuschel, M., Fehr, M., Strube, C. (2024) Ectoparasites of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Germany and their health impact. Parasites & Vectors 17, 2

 

Rehbein, S., Jůnková Vymyslická, P., Peterka, T., Strube, C., Visser, M., Mayr, S., Lackerschmid, J. (2024) Calicophoron daubneyi (Paramphistomidae) in deer of the Šumava National Park, Czech Republic - Consequence of prevalent rumen fluke infection in cattle. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 50, 101012

 

Bisterfeld, K., Raulf, M.-K., Waindok, P., Springer, A., Lang, J., Lierz, M., Siebert, U., Strube, C. (2022) Cardio-pulmonary parasites of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Germany. Parasite & Vectors 15, 452

 

Waindok, P., Raue, K., Grilo, M., Siebert, U., Strube, C. (2021) Predators in northern Germany are reservoirs for parasites of One Health concern. Parasitology Research 120, 4229-4239