Overview of research projects

Funding: Roland und Elfriede Schauer-Stiftung, 210.000 EUR

Project Details:
In this project, we hypothesize that glycosylated C-type lectin receptor (CLR) ligands induce a differential expression of CLRs by intestinal macrophages under bacterial dysbiosis, thereby leading to a modulated host immune response. This hypothesis will be tested by performing in vitro and in vivo studies.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 400.880 EUR

Project Details:
The future region "TiPP" has the aim of optimising transparency and traceability in a regionally established value chain pig via digital strategies from farm to fork. The focus of the practical trials is the use of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) with its concepts and technologies (DLT, blockchain), which is completely unexplored in farm animals. For testing and the later derivation of transparency indices for consumers, animal, farm and process data are collected along the entire pig value chain in sub-projects that address current transparency-relevant areas such as data management, application of sensors, animal health, animal welfare, climate efficiency, sustainability and consumer behaviour.

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

OFFIS e.V.

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 415.089 EUR

Project Details:
The objective of this project is to reduce the use of antibiotics in broiler fattening by on-farm hatching. Onfarm hatching is intended to increase animal health and consequently reduce the incidence of bacterial diseases in the flocks. For this purpose, various parameters that can be influenced by on-farm hatching are
taken into account, collected, evaluated and made available to the practice.
The project is divided into two phases. In phase 1, four farms are accompanied that already use the method of on-farm hatching and thus have previous experience (lighthouse farms). The experiences of the lighthouse farms as well as the data collected in this first phase will be passed on in phase 2 as knowledge
transfer to six farms (two with fast-growing broiler, two with slow-growing broiler and two organic farms),
that are using on-farm hatching for the first time (newcomers).

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Universität Rostock

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 117.178 EUR

Project Details:
The overall goal of the project is that farms that have high antibiotic use (ABU) can learn from farms that have comparably low ABU and the identification and optimization of parameters to improve animal health. The specific objectives of the project are: to improve biosecurity and overall hygiene of broiler chicken farms, to improve animal health of broiler chickens, to minimize the use of antibiotics, to transfer knowledge between broiler chicken farms with low and high ABU, and to optimize risk areas based on knowledge transfer.
There should be an intensive exchange of experiences between farmers who have different levels of ABU within the project. Thus, farms that have a high need for antibiotic use at the beginning of the project will learn which parameters they can and should optimize to improve animal health and minimize antibiotic use. Farm management factors that have a potential impact on animal health and consequent necessary ABU will be evaluated and collected during the practical phases of the project. These factors are divided into respective work packages (WP), including biosecurity of the farm and hygiene management (worked on by FLI & UROS), cleaning and disinfection (UROS), animal health and stable or herd management (TiHo and LMU), and knowledge transfer (UROS).
The project thus involves farms that have already been able to minimize their antibiotic use through innovative measures, optimized management and improved husbandry conditions. In addition, farms that are interested in improving animal health and minimizing antibiotic use and want to learn from other farms are invited to participate.

Cooperation Partners:

Uni ROS; Prof. Helen Louton

LMU München; PD Dr. Elke Rauch

FLI Insel Riems; PD Dr. Nicolai Denzin

Funding: MWK, 104.704 EUR

Project Details:
COFONI LZF-TP-Expansion to include the research area
"Interdisciplinary research into the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Results:

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

Funding: MWK via UMG (COFONI), 86.260 EUR

Project Details:
Type I interferon signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction in the heart acute and long-Covid disease.

Results:

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

Funding: MWK, 104.704 EUR

Project Details:
COFONI-LPC TechnologiePlattform 2-
Animal models & test systems

Results:

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

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/

Project Details:
Flexural deformities are common in foals. Conservative therapy by systemic administration of oxytetracycline (OTC) is often effective, however, it is associated with risks and disadvantages. The aim of the project is to test the potential effect of pharmacological alternatives to OTC on tendon tissue ex vivo.

Results:

Cardinaux, E.M., Oltmanns, H., Beineke, A., Meißner, J., Geburek, F.

Pharmacological alternatives to oxytetracycline as potential treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals: a preliminary in vitro cell viability and proliferation study. In: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, ECVS; Valencia, Spain, July 4-6, 2024, Vet. Surg. 2024, 53, O3.

DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14127

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vsu.14127?msockid=3bbb10b1936a636d06e205cc92aa6203

Project Details:
The objective of this prospective randomised clinical trial is to evaluate the occurrence of post-operative ileus as well as the short- and long-term outcome with the use of two different suture patterns for jejunojejunal anastomosis. Furthermore, histomorphology and several markers for inflammation, cell death, the enteric nervous system and stem cells will be evaluated in intestinal samples taken from the resection margins. In cases necessitating anastomotic revision or euthanasia, this (immuno-)histological examination will also be performed on the anastomosis itself. Determining the expression and distribution of these markers will enable the characterisation of this tissue prior to and following anastomosis and possibly identify causes for post-operative ileus or anastomotic failure.