Overview of research projects

Funding: Gesellschaft für Kynologische Forschung, Hahn-Stiftung, DFG, DAAD, 30.000 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Small Animal Clinic

Project Details:
Die Untersuchung des Liquor cerebrospinalis ist ein wertvolles Instrument, um in vivo Informationen über den Zustand des zentralen Nervensystems zu erhalten. Die darin enthaltenen Zellen reflektieren zumindest teilweise die perivaskuläre Zellpopulation im ZNS. Es wurde daher eine Methode entwickelt, diese Zellen mit Hilfe der Durchflusszytometrie zu charakterisieren. Derzeit werden die Toll-like Rezeptoren näher bestimmt.
In einer 2. Studie wird untersucht, wie sich die Glukose im Liquor cerebrospinalis des Hundes verhält, und ob die Bestimmung von dieser zur Diagnostik beitragen kann oder sich proportional zur Zellzahl bzw. zur Blutglukose verhält.
In weiteren Studien werden verschiedene Biomarker, wie Tau-Protein, Chemokine, Zytokine und Abbauprodukte von Gliazellen und Nervenzellen untersucht, um einen prognostischen Faktor für Rückenmarkserkrankungen zu erhalten. Neue Methoden zur Haltbarmachung der Zellen werden evaluiert.

Funding: teilweise BMBF (Lichtenbergstipendium); Gesellschaft für Kynologische Forschung; Irene und Hans-Joachim Hahn-Stiftung, DAAD, 80.000 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Institute for Pathology
Small Animal Clinic

Project Details:
Die steril-eitrige Meningitis-Arteriitis des Hundes (SRMA)ist die häufigste entzündliche Erkrankung des zentralen Nervensystems des Hundes im Norddeutschen Raum. Mit Hilfe mehrerer Pathogenesestudien soll versucht werden, die Erkrankung besser zu charakterisieren, um neue Therapiestrategien entwickeln zu können. Die Zellpopulation in Liquor cerebrospinalis und Blut wurde mit Hilfe durchflusszytometrischer Studien charakterisiert. Studien zur Zytokinexpression sollen helfen, das Phänomen der hohen IgA Produktion zu erleuchten. Die Untersuchung von Toll-like Rezeptoren soll einen Hinweis auf die Ätiologie der Erkrankung liefern. Die Th17 Antwort und das Endocannabinoidsystem werden näher untersucht

Results:

Arianna Maiolini, Regina Carlson, M. Schwartz, G. Gandini and Andrea Tipold: "Determination of immunoglobulin A concentrations in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of dogs: An estimation of its diagnostic value in canine steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis." The Veterinary Journal, 191, 219-224, 2012

 

S.A. Moore, M.Y. Kim, Arianna Maiolini, Andrea Tipold and M.J. Oglesbee: "Extracellular hsp70 release in Canine Steroid Responsive Menintis-Arteritis." Vet Immunol Immunopathol., 145, 129-133, 2012

 

Arianna Maiolini, Regina Carlson and Andrea Tipold: "Toll-like receptors 4 and 9 are responsible for the maintenance of the inflammatory reaction in canine steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, a large animal model for neutrophilic meningitis." J Neuroinflammation 9, 226 (1-12), 2012.

 

Arianna Maiolini, M. Otten, M. Hewicker-Trautwein, R. Carlson and Andrea Tipold: "Interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth fator beta 1 in canine steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis." BMC Veterinary Research, 9:23, 1-10, 2013.

 

J. Freundt-Revilla, A. Maiolini, R. Carlson, M. Beyerbach, K. Rentmeister, T. Flegel, A. Fischer and Andrea Tipold: "Th17 skewed immune response and cluster of differentiation 40 ligand expression in canine steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, a large animal model for neutrophilic meningitis." J. Neuroinflammation 14:20, 2017. doi.10.1186/s12974-016-0784-3.

Funding: Stipend Thailand Government via Kasetsart University , 143.168 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Institute for Physiology and Cell Biology
Small Animal Clinic

Project Details:
Neue Erkenntnisse zeigen, dass die Mikrobiom-Darm-Hirn-Achse einen wichtigen Einfluss auf die Hirngesundheit haben kann. Ein Ungleichgewicht der Darmflora könnte unkontrollierbare Epilepsien begünstigen. In unserer Studie transplantieren wir geeignete Darmflora an Patienten, bei denen Antiepileptika nicht wirken.Während der Studie sammeln wir Kot, Urin und Speichel und testen Anfallsfrequenz und Verhaltensaspekte der Hunde.

Clinics/Institutes:
Clinic for Horses
Institute for General Radiology and Medical Physics

Project Details:
The aim of this work is to determine the bone density as well as the geometric structure of the upper and lower jaw bones in the vicinity of the molars. Horses of different ages are compared to find out whether differences in bone density and structure are the cause of the more common lower jaw complications in young horses.

Clinics/Institutes:
Small Animal Clinic
Institute for General Radiology and Medical Physics

Project Details:
The aim of this project is to record changes in the vertebral bodies in brachicephalic races, with the aim of defining characteristic features.

Cooperation Partners:

PD Dr. Janin Reifenrath, AG Biodegradable und bioaktive orthopädische Implantate im NIFE (Niedersächsisches Zentrum für Biomedizintechnik, Implantatforschung und Entwicklung)

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, 331.800 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Clinic for Poultry

Project Details:
Investigation of the role of T cells in the immune pathogenesis of the infectious bursitis virus. The project is embedded in the DFG-research group "ImmunoChick".

Cooperation Partners:

PD Dr. Angela Berndt, FLI

PD Dr. U. Methner, FLI

PD Dr. S. Härtle, LMU München

Prof. Dr. T. Göbel, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Kaspers, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Kaufer, FU Berlin

Prof. Dr. M. Meissner, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Schusser, TU München

Prof. Dr. J. Kaufman, University of Cambridge

Funding: EU, 955.230 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research

Project Details:
It is widely recognised that noise entering the underwater environment from shipping and other human activities can disturb and harm aquatic animals. Studies have already shown these disturbance effects, while other research has suggested ways to reduce some of the noise generated by shipping. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge and understanding of how underwater noise can affect individual animals and entire populations.

This is now set to change with the SATURN consortium, which for the first time brings together leading European experts in bioacoustics, veterinary medicine, population biology, plus naval architecture and engineering in an EU-funded project. Key issues include:
- Identifying sounds that are most harmful to aquatic species and how they are generated and propagated;
- What are the short-term and cumulative long-term negative effects of noise from ships and boats on aquatic species in rivers and the sea;
- What are the most promising options for measuring and reducing the negative impacts of ship noise that can be applied to current and future ships.

Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert, Director of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research at the TiHo, is the leader of the biological working group in this consortium, which investigates the influence of underwater noise on the behaviour, health and energy balance of aquatic organisms. Another important aspect supported by ITAW is public relations and communication.

Funding: EU, 1.234.225 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses

Project Details:
Bewertung von rational konzipierten Influenza-Impfstoffen

Funding: EU Kommission (imi), 337.500 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses

Project Details:
The objective of WP3 is to combine the broad expertise of consortium partners in drug discovery in order to identify small molecule candidate drugs to fight coronaviruses.
To effectively deliver drug candidates, WP3 is interacting closely with WP1 and WP2 to identify and select potential starting points for further development based on clearly defined progression criteria. A screening cascade for (phenotypic) hit ID has been implemented and executed. In addition, a coordinated AI-platform and analysis of targets for their druggability is being finalized to facilitate the selection of potential starting points for chemistry. The medicinal chemistry efforts have not yet been initiated as the review and selection of potential starting points from the first wave of hit identification is still ongoing.
In addition to the Hit selection criteria to move forward into Hit to Lead (H2L), WP3 contributors have already prepared for the next steps by defining the initial progression criteria for hits, leads and optimized lead compounds. In addition, a screening cascade for H2L and lead optimization (LO) is proposed, including the flow for the ADMET-PK related assays. The aim is to work towards the predefined target product profiles (TPPs) which have also been discussed within WP3 and are close to finalisation.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, 154.038 EUR

Clinics/Institutes:
Institute for Animal Hygiene Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour

Project Details:
In this project, the focus is on analysing the interrelationships between animal welfare and environmental protection in dairy farming. The aim of the project is to consider the three factors "low emissions, high walking comfort and long-lived cows" in a three-year study phase in the Chamber of Agriculture's trial barn at Haus Riswick.

Cooperation Partners:

- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institut für Landtechnik

- Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen, Haus Riswick