All Projects

Funding: Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., 289.316 EUR

Project Details:
All recombinant RSVs (rRSVs) will be rescued in HEp-2 cells infected with MVA-T7 via transfection of the appropriate full length BAC clone along with either the RSV-B17-058221 and RS V-B18-002094 helper plasmids. All rescued viruses will be analyzed by NGS at passage 3 to identify if any mutations occurred during in vitro passaging. If mutations are identified then COMPANY and INSTITUTION will discuss the
requirement for growth of additional independent rescued viruses, with the COMPANY responsible for the final decision.

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: This work was supported by COVID-19 Research Network of the State of Lower Saxony (COFONI) with funding from the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Germany (14-76403-184) and by PRACTIS—Clinician Scientist Program of Hannover Medical School, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG-ME3696/3-1)., 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
Vaccination is an important measure in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were pharmocovigilance concerns as a very rare but potentially disastrous complication was identified after application with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, i.e. cerebral sinus thrombosis, but also further thrombotic complications including ischemic stroke. Meanwhile, the most likely mechanism has been identified as platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibody mediated immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, a mechanism which is already known from heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Interestingly NETs were suggested to be critical for thrombus formation in the HIT-pathophysiology as well. Markers of NETosis were observed in platelet-rich thrombi in the lungs of mice with HIT. Therefore, NETs might also be involved in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) mediated thrombotic complications and might therefore be a common trunk in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and vaccine-induced complications. Moreover, biomarkers reflecting NETs burden in the circulation and within tissue specimens (e.g. cerebral thrombi) may be suitable as diagnostic, therapeutic or prognostic targets in thrombotic diseases. Most importantly, there is a tremendous need to identify patients at risk for cerebrovascular complications due to both COVID-19 and VITT. The proposed project ISI-VITT is intended to contribute to addressing this issue.

Cooperation Partners:

Cerebrovascular Research Group (Head: Prof. Dr. Karin Weissenborn), Deptartment of Neurology, Medical School Hannover: Dr. Ramona Schuppner & Dr. Gerrit M. Grosse

Prof. Dr. Christine Falk, Institute for Transplantation Immunology, Medical School 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

Funding: MWK über UMG Göttingen, 29.847 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).

Funding: MWK über UMG Göttingen, 34.750 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).

Funding: MWK über UMG Göttingen, 41.000 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).

Funding: MWK über UMG Göttingen, 44.446 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).

Funding: COVID 19 Forschungsnetzwerk Niedersachsen COFONI, 48.638 EUR

Project Details:
Early detection of individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 infection remains the most important tool to interrupt the chain of infection. Several studies have already proven canines’ extraordinary olfactory acuity to detect SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. However, with increasing knowledge about the virus, the variety and chronicity of the disease expression and an increase in the number of people that are vaccinated, some questions have not yet been answered. We will test a variety of hypotheses to further explore the use of detection dogs as a screening method for SARS-CoV-2-infections.

Results:

Dogs can distinguish SARS-CoV-2-infections from other viral infections. However, compared to earlier studies our scent dogs achieved lower diagnostic sensitivities. To deploy COVID-19 detection dogs as a reliable screening method it is therefore mandatory to include a variety of samples from different viral respiratory tract infections in dog training to ensure a successful discrimination process.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.749588

Cooperation Partners:

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover