Research

Funding: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, BSH, 40.256 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the research project is to answer scientific questions related to effects of offshore wind farms on harbour porpoises. Therefore, effects that occur during construction as well as cumulative effects from the construction of offshore wind farms will be investigated and an assessment concept will be developed. First, data from harbour porpoise click detectors are evaluated, which provide important information on the occurrence of harbour porpoises. The objective of this research project is to establish the cause-effect relationship between sound exposure and harbour porpoise occurrence as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of measures used to reduce effects on harbour porpoises (noise mitigation and deterrence).
The work in this project aims to answer the following question:
1)Are the applied noise mitigation measures during the construction of offshore wind farms sufficient to ensure the protection of the harbour porpoise?
An evaluation that takes into account all constructed wind farms has not been carried out yet, but is imperative in order to evaluate the success of the application and further developments of noise mitigation measures. The evaluation of the current noise mitigation concept and the state of the art using data and findings from previous projects make an important contribution to the planning of the upcoming further expansion of offshore wind energy.

Funding: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, BSH, 80.857 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the research project is to answer scientific questions related to the effects of offshore wind farms on harbour porpoises in German waters. Therefore, both the sound-related effects on the population of harbour porpoises that occur during construction and the cumulative effects from the construction of offshore wind farms, for which an assessment concept will be developed (FP 2), will be investigated. The objective of this research project is to establish the cause-effect relationship between sound exposure and harbour porpoise occurrence as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of measures used to reduce effects on harbour porpoises (noise mitigation and deterrence). First, underwater noise recordings during the construction of offshore wind farms will be analysed with regard to the noise emission from the pile driving. Based on this data and considering physical area-specific parameters, the sound propagation will be modelled. The modelling enables to estimate noise emissions in the entire study area. A model will be used to determine whether the existing data are sufficient to explain effects on the occurrence of harbour porpoises. In a study, data will be identified, criteria established and, with a model, their applicability tested to investigate cumulative effects of offshore wind farm construction on the occurrence of harbour porpoises.
The work in this project will answer the following questions:
1)How can the effects of anthropogenic noise emissions during the construction of offshore wind turbines on harbor porpoises be assessed cumulatively?
2)Can the collected data on pile-driving noise, deterrence and porpoise detections as well as construction-related shipping sufficiently explain the effect of the construction work on the occurrence of harbour porpoises?
An evaluation that takes into account all constructed wind farms has not been carried out yet, but is imperative in the future, among other things to evaluate the success of the application and further developments of noise mitigation measures. The evaluation of the current noise mitigation concept and state of the art using data and findings from the previous projects make an important contribution to the planning of the upcoming further expansion of offshore wind energy.

Cooperation Partners:

JASCO Applied Sciences

Funding: BMBF, 45.234 EUR

Project Details:
The focus is on the problem that we classify animals according to human standards, such as those we love and those we fight against. Protecting humans from diseases that originate in the animal kingdom requires measures that are maximally detrimental to animals. The retreat weeks will focus on current and controversial research into zoonoses. Ethics and moral philosophy must also provide answers to the question of what boundaries we should draw for ourselves in these difficult decisions and what criteria we should use as a basis. The results are to be bundled into a model that can be used both as a model for questions in the scientific community and as a touchstone for academic discourse on an appropriate relationship to the "animal"

Results:

Triggered by COVID-19, zoonoses have moved into the spotlight of public interest.

In zoonosis research in particular, it is important to weigh up the potential benefits for humans against the actual harm to laboratory animals.

During a retreat week, experts discussed and prepared helpful contributions on conflicts in the field of "zoonosis research on companion animals". Based on real case constellations, an argumentative path through the numerous value contradictions was shown, which represents an extreme condensation of fundamental animal ethical conflicts based on real, concrete scenarios.

The project initially dealt with the clarification of terms: what makes an animal a laboratory animal, what makes it a pet? Where do the terms overlap and what is the legal situation in different countries?

The special nature of companion animals in the context of zoonoses was explored in an ethical and scientific manner. Younger researchers in particular were confronted with the ethical aspect of zoonosis research for the first time and found an ethical exchange on the topic very helpful.

The results of the project were documented in the special issue of the Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research published in fall 2023 and provide a good basis for a refined model for future interdisciplinary writing projects. A continuation of the project from summer 2024 in the form of European summer schools is planned.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL); Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, 7.975 EUR

Project Details:
Development of a multifunctional barn concept for the animal-friendly keeping of dual-purpose chickens and brother cocks from chicks to food

Cooperation Partners:

Hochschule Osnabrück, Tierhaltung und Tierprodukte (Prof. Dr. R. Andersson)

Fachhochschule Südwestfalen, Fachbereich Agrarwirtschaft, Prof. Dr. M. Mergenthaler

Universität Bonn, Institut für Tierwissenschaften, Dr. I. Tiemann

Universität Bonn, Verfahrenstechnik in der Tierischen Erzeugung, Prof. Dr. W. Büscher

Funding: Landesjägerschaf Niedersachsen e.V. - Anerkannter Naturschutzverband, 22.863 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of this project is to compile the key statements from the literature published since 2009 on the subject of the influence of predation on selected small game species, meadow birds and other types of agricultural land. In addition, an overview of species protection projects in Germany over the last 15 years and the species mentioned is created, with special consideration of projects that are only known locally/regionally. The reason for this study arises from the fact that many species of open land, including those of wet grassland, have seen continuous and sometimes significant population declines in recent decades. This is often explained by the change in our cultural landscape. The focus here is on the changes in agricultural management forms in recent decades, as well as the general disappearance of suitable habitats, for example due to the cultivation of original habitats such as marshes, lowlands and moors and the wide and open wet grassland. In addition to the necessary programs for the conservation and improvement of these habitats and the habitat quality, the factors of predation influence and predation management deserve just as much attention. Numerous studies confirm this importance. The predation is to be placed in a close reciprocal relationship with the habitat and the weather. Optimum weather conditions and high-quality habitat enable high rearing rates and low mortality rates, so that losses by predators can be compensated. However, under today's often suboptimal habitat conditions in our cultivated landscape and an additional high density of predators, it is not possible to achieve sufficient rearing rates to stabilize the corresponding populations.The aspect of habitat quality is given more consideration in more recent studies than in the studies up to 2009. In addition, there are the results of a number of species protection projects that have not yet been scientifically published, but which undoubtedly provide valuable information for dealing with the predation issue.

Funding: Niedersächsischen Ministeriums für Wissenschaft und Kultur , 3.452 EUR

Project Details:
The aim was to create a course on the topic of "Basic training in the use of fluorescence microscopy" for students of biology and veterinary medicine via the documentation system in the TiHo Moodle platform. This module can be completed by the students in self-study. It is underpinned by texts, videos and subject-specific questions that must be answered after processing and viewing the videos. Essential parts of the content are also made available online as summarizing units as OER in the Twillo portal and are particularly suitable for students from natural science courses, pupils and trainees in (veterinary) medical professions.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
Mit dem Innovation plus-Projekt wird ein Training klinisch-praktischer und kommunikativer Fertigkeiten mit anschließender formativer elektronischer eOSCE-Prüfung (Electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examination) für Studierende, die ihren Zyklus des Praktischen Jahres in der Klinik für Heimtiere, Reptilien, Zier- und Wildvögel der Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover absolvieren, konzipiert und umgesetzt werden. Das Training dient der Vorbereitung der Studierenden auf ihr Praktisches Jahr sowie der tierärztlichen Tätigkeit im Anschluss an das Studium. In dem Zusammenhang werden Modelle und Simulatoren sowie Lernstationen für den Heimtiersektor erstellt für die Vermittlung klinisch-praktischer und kommunikativer Fertigkeiten. Im Anschluss an das praktische Training erfolgt eine Überprüfung der erlernten Fertigkeiten mittels eOSCE-Prüfung.

Funding: MWK Niedersachsen, 69.925 EUR

Project Details:
Since the first description of SARS-CoV2 and the related disease COVID-19 in December 2019 various in vitro and in vivo models were utilized to investigate viral life cycle and pathophysiology as basis for effective treatment strategies. In vivo models used to investigate SARS-CoV2 or respiratory viral infections in general range from small animals models to non-human primate models (Munoz-Fontela et al., 2020). But next to the ethical questions accompanying animal models in scientific research also not all questions related to human respiratory epithelium can be examined with (small) animal models. Immortalized human cell lines like Caco-2, Calu-3 or HEK293T which are regularly used to investigate respiratory viruses like influenza or Human Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) and also Corona Virus infections (SARS, MERS) are frequently applied to investigate infection and replication of SARS-CoV2; however, although these cell lines are comparatively easy and cost effective to grow, they only poorly recapitulate physiological conditions of the respiratory epithelium. Even cell lines such as A549 cells barely reflect the phenotype of lung epithelium. Human primary bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) represent a more physiological in vitro model and are also utilized in SARS-CoV2 research (Hoffmann et al., 2020). These cells can be isolated from donor lung tissue, expanded in vitro and matured in Air-Liquid-Interface (ALI) cultures (Hoffmann et al., 2020). While the main focus of our group is scalable generation and utilization of cardiovascular and respiratory derivatives from induced pluripotent stem cells for disease modelling, drug screening and cellular therapies (Merkert et al., 2019; Katsirntaki et al., 2015; Kempf et al., 2014; Schmeckebier et al., 2013; Zweigert et al., 2011), we have recently also established isolation of primary human airway cells of consistent high quality: Hannover Medical School is the leading German lung transplantation center with about 100 lung transplantation per year. In close collaboration with our transplant surgeons and the group of Prof. Danny Jonigk (Pathology, MHH), we are routinely preparing hBECs from bronchial tissue that can be culture-expanded and cryopreserved for later applications. Also maturation of these hBECs is already well established in our group and matured proximal epithelial cells are already provided to partners for investigation of SARS-CoV2 as well as other respiratory viral infections (e.g. RSV). While these primary hBECs represent a superior in vitro model for SARS-CoV2 infection studies and COVID disease modelling, they do represent only one respiratory compartment. Infection by SARS-CoV2 not only occurs in the upper throat and nasal tract, trachea and bronchi, but also in the alveolar epithelium. Therefore also organotypic in vitro models that reflect the distal lung compartment are urgently required. While maintenance and expansion of isolated type II alveolar epithelial cells (AT2 cells) was so far impossible, substantial progress was very recently made, and protocols that enable production of such cells in larger numbers have been developed. So called Alveolospheres, organoids consisting of alveolar type 1 and 2 cells, allow expansion and maturation of isolated distal epithelial cell in vitro and were recently used to model SARS-CoV2 infection (Karsura et al., 2020; Salahudeen et al., 2020). Although organoid cultures enabled in vitro culture of AT1 and AT2 cells, we believe ALI cultures would represent a more physiological system with air exposure of the epithelial cells and could subsequently allow co-culture systems with endothelial cells as well as macrophages to create more complex organotypic in vitro models of the alveolar lung compartment. By utilizing our experience from differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (Katsirntaki et al., 2015; Schmeckebier et al., 2013) we aim to establish isolation, 2D expansion and cryopreservation of human AT2 cells, and further maturation and differentiation in type I alveolar epithelial (AT1) cells in an ALI culture system for in vitro modelling of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Martin, Dr. rer. nat. Ruth Olmer

Leibniz-Forschungslaboratorien für Biotechnologie und künstliche Organe, Klinik für Herz-, Thorax-, Transplantations- und Gefäßchirurgie - Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Funding: SprinD, 684.523 EUR

Project Details:
Current antiviral agents mainly target stages in the viral life cycle such as viral attachment to host cell or replication of viral RNA and DNA. Most of the available antiviral agents are effective against replicating viruses only, and due to the lack of specificity, many have adverse side effects. Particularly in endemic and pandemic disease outbreaks, there is additional challenge through virus mutagenesis and the development of viral variants. Therefore, approaches, which target various virus variants are urgently needed. Current paradigms in antiviral treatment involve usage of small molecules and/or therapeutic antibodies. Small molecules often have secondary targets and thus can cause side effects. Antibodies are expensive, their administration is mostly limited to clinical settings, and also they are affected by mutations. In an endemic or pandemic situation, therapies which have broad coverage within virus families, prevent transmission, and can be safely applied during mild and moderate illness are especially valuable.

Our novel approach aims to fill this need through the use of CRISPR/Cas13, an enzyme from bacteria, which cleaves RNA, including the viral genome (of RNA viruses) and of viral mRNA, thereby blocking viral replication and generation of viral proteins. Our therapeutic strategy has no secondary targets, and can be produced at GMP level at low cost. Through a specific combination of so-called crRNAs, Cas13 is directed to different viral mRNAs and to different sites within the viral genome. The crRNAs are selected such that no human RNA is targeted, and therefore no adverse side effects can be expected. This technology can easily be adapted for any single stranded RNA virus. Through targeting different and highly conserved regions, this approach antagonizes also emerging variants of the original virus.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Zeisberg, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen

Funding: SprinD GmbH, 263.866 EUR

Project Details:
The viral genome of an RNA virus is released into the cell, where the viral genome is amplified and its transcripts translated into proteins to form more copies the virus. CRISPR/Cas13 enzymes cleave different sites of the viral genome and its transcripts through a combination of crRNAs. Proliferation of the virus is blocked and transcripts to be translated into viral proteins are reduced.

Cooperation Partners:

Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (UMG), Prof. Elisabeth Zeisberg