Overview of research projects

Funding: Drittmittelprojekt, gefördert durch Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung., 15.000 EUR

Project Details:
The precise investigation of the muscle-to-meat transition after the slaughter of farm animals is important, because it (could) lead to a better understanding of the processes during these post-mortem changes. This allows the definition and analysis of influencing factors that may have a positive or negative effect on the meat quality. However, since an in vivo analysis of meat formation is difficult to standardize, in vitro models have been developed that are easier to standardize with regard to metabolites/ compositions (e.g. certain organelles such as mitochondria). Since the models have so far been scientifically investigated in pigs and chickens, the study will first establish an already published in-vitro model with pig muscles and then transfer it to bovine and possibly turkey muscles. These models will then be used to analyze the physiological muscle-to-meat transition after slaughter in more detail, also taking into account certain exogenous and endogenous factors, especially the mitochondria. The influence of mitochondria will be examined in more detail, as they have an (important) influence on meat formation. In addition, the models will be used to analyze (pathological) problems in meat formation (e.g. PSE, DFD).

Project Details:
The project focuses on the isolation of phages from the feces of bearded dragons. After isolation, phages are examined and classified according to their efficacy and characteristics. Subsequently the influence of phage application on the microbiom and shedding of Salmonella is examined. These examinations are of relevance because of the zoonotic potential of Salmonella shedding in reptiles.

Cooperation Partners:

Robert-Koch-Institut Wernigerode

Funding: Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, 44.500 EUR

Project Details:
Epilepsies are frequent neurological diseases in humans and dogs, characterized by recurrent, spontaneous seizures. About one third of human and two thirds of canine epilepsy patients do not become seizure free with the currently available antiseizure medications and are considered as pharmacoresistant. In addition, all antiseizure drugs cause adverse effects. Non-pharmacological treatment strategies are therefore urgently needed, and include therapeutic exercise training as adjunctive therapy.
So far, the effects of moderate exercise training on epileptic seizure thresholds are not sufficiently investigated, although several studies suggest that its positive effects might be therapeutically useful. Our pre-clinical studies focus on the effects of moderate exercise training on epileptic seizure thresholds and behavior.

Cooperation Partners:

Gerald Schneider (Klinik für Rehabilitations- und Sportmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)

Funding: MWK, 540.878 EUR

Project Details:
Comprehensive characterization of the hormone profiles of the HPG axis in male and female Long COVID patients, hormone panels, hormone measurements and statistical evaluations.
Creation of expression profiles of sex hormones and
sex hormone receptors in the plasma, lungs, reproductive organs and brains of male and female hamsters.

Results:

https://www.umg.eu/forschung/corona/cofoni/

Funding: VolkswagenStiftung, 700.000 EUR

Project Details:
Avian influenza in humans is associated with pneumonia, inflammation and high case fatality rates. We identified CYP19A1 as a key gene involved in sex-specific lung inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters and humans. CYP19A encodes for the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone-to-estradiol leading to the activation of various estrogen-regulated pathways associated with lung inflammation. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters with letrozole, a clinically approved CYP19A1 aromatase inhibitor, recovered impaired lung function and overall lung health in males. We further found that also avian H7N9 influenza virus infection mediates massive upregulation of CYP19A1 in the lung of infected animals. Thus, we hypothesize that estrogen-regulated activation of inflammatory pathways in the lung play a crucial role in severe viral disease outcome. Therefore, in this proposal, we will systemically evaluate the impact of compounds that inhibit the synthesis of estrogens (using aromatase inhibitors) or interfere with estrogen-regulated down-stream pathways (using estrogen antagonists, SERMs, SERDs) against avian influenza in the hamster model. Obtained data will provide new insights into estrogen-mediated inflammatory pathways upon infection with respiratory viruses. Moreover, identification of common pathways might result in overarching drug targets to treat inflammatory lung diseases in general.

Cooperation Partners:

Evotec

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz , 133.410 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the study is to begin recording the zoonotic potential of raccoon dog, nutria and raccoon populations in Lower Saxony, taking into account the distribution of these and other susceptible animal species in the region. For this purpose, a small number of animals are sampled and autopsied from the hunting grounds. This study is funded by the hunting levy of the MELV.

Funding: Industry (Animal breeding), 1.056.339 EUR

Funding: BMBF - JIPOceans MARE:N-Meeres- und Polarforschung im Förderbereich:Meeresforschung, 394.621 EUR

Project Details:
Sounds from offshore wind farms (OWF) are among the main contributors of anthropogenic noise to the marine environment. Substantial effort has been expanded on understanding possible impacts of noise resulting from the development stages of the OWF lifecycle. Despite 30 years of OWF operation in EU waters, our understanding of the impacts in the operational phase on marine ecosystems is limited. In this consortium, we aim to address this gap by expanding our knowledge of the radiated noise and the biological consequences of these operations and placing them in appropriate regulatory contexts, including provisions for adaptive mitigation advice. From the source and medium side, we will quantify key features of radiated noise from fixed and floating OWF, to increase understanding and simulate cumulative effect of clusters on radiated noise, helping us to identify sensitive habitats in cross-basin soundscapes. From the biological perspective, we will identify spatial and qualitative use of operating OWF by top predators and study the impacts of OWF noise on zooplankton behavior. These efforts will advance our knowledge of acute and cumulative effects of operational OWF noise across pelagic food webs. Harmonising and combining these two sides, we will develop knowledge and tools for integration of all aspects of noise production and propagation from operational OWF. This will facilitate assessment of planned OWF expansion for marine spatial planning and environmental impact. Finally, we will synthesise knowledge and best practices from EU and international experiences with fixed offshore wind installations and transfer this into the development of policy, mitigation, and regulation for the floating OWF within national, EU and international frameworks. With expected substantial expansion in OWF infrastructure globally as part of the green shift, our data and approaches will help facilitate this transition while minimizing impacts on the marine ecosystems

Funding: BMBF - JIPOceans MARE:N-Meeres- und Polarforschung im Förderbereich: Meeresforschung, 399.994 EUR

Project Details:
Marine environment is affected by noise pollution from human activity. The difficulty of conducting clinical and pathological analyses on living organisms in the marine environment and the wide diversity of sources of noise pollution determine a great uncertainty in the nature and extent of effects noise pollution has on marine fauna. Despite the growing literature on these themes, there are still relevant gaps, and a lack of multidisciplinarity in investigations of acute and long-term exposures, considering both single animals and populations. DIAPHONIA will bring together scientists from diverse backgrounds, to assess the various impacts of underwater noise on marine organisms throughout the food web, on European basins. Work package 1 (WP1) will develop a possible diagnostic fingerprinting composed of several tissue markers incorporating molecular, metabolomic and microscopic techniques to identify functional and morphological changes in the acoustic pathways of invertebrates, fishes and marine mammals. WP2 will explore the relationship between behavioural and cellular/molecular/organ effects of both short and long-term noise exposure in fish from different European ocean basins. WP3 will gain insight into the morpho-functionality of the peripheral hearing apparatus in marine mammals and its role in defining the animal?s acoustic sensitivity, by developing a standardised workflow for wave propagation in the associated tissues. All Information and data obtained will be discussed with relevant stakeholders and policy makers, to adapt to a multidisciplinary and evidenced-based approach to the existing guidance. They will also be summarised in guidelines harmonising future research efforts towards novel approaches as predictive models and organoids.

Cooperation Partners:

Projektkoordination: Prof. Sandro Mazzariol

UNIPD - Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy

UPC- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

NTNU- Norway

Funding: MEKUN, 233.834 EUR

Project Details:
In the previous four years a concept was developed to perform standardized necropsy and examination on all otters found dead in Schleswig-Holstein (SH), to allow for assessment of the general population health status. Even though most otters were roadkills and seemed comparatively healthy, zoonotic agentswere cultured from tissue samples and rare otter specialist parasites were recorded for the first time in Northern Germany. Combined dietaryanalysis includinghard part analysis and genetic metabarcoding were used to depictthe natural prey spectrum of otters. Knowlegde on the otters` diet is of utmost importance in various context, for example in the light of fisheries-otter conflicts. Cementum aging reveiled a rather young average age of the investigated otters from SH. Combined with the ongoing recolonization of the otter in SH, this might be an indication that the population has not finally established itself yet and we face a dynamic process. The findings of various environmental contaminants of concern in the otters from SH were of utmost importance and included potential microplastic particles, pharmaceuticals, rat poison, mercury or per- and polyfluorinated chemicals.

The aim of this project is to combine the expertise from previous years and transform the health assessments into a long-term post-mortem population health monitoring for otters in SH. As top predators, Eurasian otters are indicator species for environmental contaminants or infectious diseases in freshwater ecosystems, like marine mammals in their habitat. By adopting this indicator function, the collection of otter health data shall be continued to allow for the estimation of time trends in future population health assessments. Accordingly, otters found dead in SH will continued to be collected and investigated, including diagnostics such as histology, microbiology and parasitology. The main focus will be on diseased animals and such, where the cause of death is unclear. All other individuals will be screened for relevant indicator pathogens, including distemper virus or high pathogenic avian influenza virus. In addition, parasitological and microbiological investigations will be conducted if assumed necessary. To determine whether hard ticks infecting otters play a role in the transfer of vector-borne disease, all collected hard ticks (Ixodes) from previous years will be determined on a species level. The results will give an overview, which tick species are infecting otters and if the transfer of certain pathogens might play a role here.

In accordance with their role as indicator species of the aquatic environment, systematic mercury analysis will be conducted for the first time on otters from SH. An international collaboration within the EU investigated contaminants in otters and could show that mercury levels in some individuals from SH were very high compared to other top predators. For the planned analysis, samples from the biobank will be carefully selected to ensure a good coverage with regards to age, sex and location of finding. Moreover, first steps to develop biomarkers for environmental contaminants in otters will be made.

Eine systematische Fortführung der Untersuchungen der Fischotter in SH ist von zentraler Bedeutung, um langfristige Populationsentwicklungen einzuschätzen und beurteilen zu können. Als streng geschützte Art und wertvoller Indikator für das Ökosystem Süßwasser bietet ein strategisches Monitoring des Fischotters die Möglichkeit, Arten- und Naturschutz zu verbinden. Auch im Hinblick auf sich abzeichnende Interessenskonflikte, z.B. mit der Fischerei, kann eine solide Datengrundlage zum Fischotter wertvolle Informationsarbeit leisten und sachliche Diskussionen ermöglichen.

In order to estimate and evaluate long-term population trends of otters in SH, a systemic continuation of the post-mortem investigations is needed. As strictly protected species and suitable indicator for the freshwater ecosystem, a strategic monitoring of Eurasian otter represents a valuable tool to combine conservation of both wildlife and nature. Especially when looking at potential conflicts like the otter-fisheries interface, a well developed dataset on otters will help to create information based on scientific facts and ensure objective rather than emotional discussion.