Overview of research projects

Funding: MWK über Universität Göttingen, 24.805 EUR

Project Details:
Die Zusammensetzung und Reaktivität des lungenspezifischen Immunsystems wird durch verschiedene Mechanismen gesteuert. Wichtig ist hierbei insbesondere die körpereigene, genetische Disposition des Individuums. Genetische Varianten sind wichtige Determinanten der kindlichen Asthma- und Virusinfektionsanfälligkeit . Aber auch äußere Faktoren wie Infektionen, Rauchen oder Umweltgifte können das Immunsystem des Lungengewebes prägen. Neuste Studien zeigen, dass auch dem Lungenmikrobiom eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Regulierung und Aktivität des Lungenimmunsystems zukommt. Das Lungenmikrobiom wurde spät entdeckt, da man lange Zeit davon ausging, dass die Lunge eine pathogenfreie, sterile Umgebung darstellt. In diesem Projekt soll der Einfluss der Lungemikrobioms auf die Schwere einer SARS-CoV-2 Infektion untersucht werden.

Funding: DFG, 240.000 EUR

Project Details:
Wild animals can serve as reservoir for causative agents of important livestock diseases including African and Classical swine fever, Foot and mouth disease, Bluetongue as well as for zoonotic viruses like SARS coronaviruses, Rabies virus, and Hepatitis E virus. In recent years, a growing number of emerging viruses were identified in domestic and wild animals. These include novel bunyaviruses, reoviruses, astroviruses, birnaviruses, circoviruses and parvoviruses from wild boar detected during the first funding period of VIPER. Another example is the identification of pestiviruses from non-ungulate hosts including rodents, bats, pangolin, and a whale. Further characterization of these newly identified viruses, including studies on viral replication, innate immune responses and other virus-host interactions, depends on successful virus isolation and propagation in tissue culture cells. Preliminary work revealed that the whale pestivirus can efficiently infect swine kidney cells and viral antigen is detectable by a monoclonal antibody. However, for several other viruses virus isolation was not successful. The recent establishment of airway and intestinal epithelial cells organoid cultures from pigs and cattle at our institute can be very useful for isolation and subsequent characterization of selected novel viruses. It is expected that the results of this project will enhance our understanding of viral evolution, origin, cross species transmission and virus-host interactions of human and animal viruses, and thus improve outbreak preparedness and infectious disease control.

Results:

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/107

Funding: EIP_Agri, ELER_Fonds Hier investiert Europa in die ländlichen Gebiete mit der Maßnahme: Europäische Innovationspartnerschaft Mit dieser Maßnahme wird die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Landwirtschaft, Ernährungswirtschaft und Wissenschaft unterstützt. Ziel ist die Durchführung von Projekten, die zu Innovationen und einer Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit in der Landwirtschaft führen., 482.195 EUR

Project Details:
The project "DEALS- Decontamination with alternative methods as a hurdle concept on carcasses and cuts of pork, broiler and turkey" investigates the combined application of several innovative decontamination methods in connection with meat production. The aim is to reduce the number of carcasses to be discarded (resource conservation) and to improve or ensure the food safety of the meat (consumer protection). For this purpose, plasma water as well as UV-C treatment, the application of starter cultures and the newer application of plasma water in the form of EWNS (engineeres water nano structures) are to be used. Step by step these decontamination methods will be applied in vitro on pure cultures of relevant microorganisms, on carcass surfaces of pigs, broilers and turkeys, and finally on meat cuts. Within the project, a prototype for the combined application of the methods is to be developed in cooperation with the HAWK, which has already proven itself in another EiP project. The close exchange with the OG partners from the downstream primary production (slaughterhouses) is particularly essential for the practical implementation of the ideas.

Cooperation Partners:

HAWK- Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim. Göttingen, Holzminden;

Schlachtbetrieb Mario Klos;

Lohmann & Co.AG

Funding: EU, 955.230 EUR

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.

Results:

Paper

"Unsealing behaviour: Variation in harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) responses to anthropogenic sound in relation to individual health"

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25002528?via%3Dihub

Funding: DFG, 491.000 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to analyse host-parasite interactions between the Fasciola hepatica as parasite and dairy cows as host, taking into account the genome of both interaction partners. Until now, studies on endoparasite resistance have focused exclusively on the genome of the host or the parasite, without considering genotype-genotype interactions between these two players. Therefore, for the first time, interactions will be modelled considering bovine genotypes (Gh) and F. hepatica genotypes (Gp).

Results:

May, K., Hecker, A.S., Strube, C., Tong, Y., König, S. (2025) Genetic parameters and single-step genome-wide association analysis for trematode (Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron / Paramphistomum spp.) infections in German dairy cows. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 128, 105712

 

Hecker, A.S., Raulf, M.-K., König, S., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Wenzel, C., May, K., Strube, C. (2024) In-herd prevalence of Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron/Paramphistomum spp. infections in German dairy cows with comparison of two coproscopical methods and establishment of real-time pyrosequencing for rumen fluke species differentiation. Veterinary Parasitology 327, 110142

 

May, K., Hecker, A.S., König, S., Strube, C. (2024) Helminth co-infections have no additive detrimental impact on milk yield and milk quality compared to mono-infections in German dairy cows. Parasites & Vectors 17, 398

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Dr. Katharina May, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Funding: MWK über Uni Göttingen, 8.400.000 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: Nordic Research Council (NRC), 49.000 EUR

Project Details:
The retreat of sea ice and the melting and retreat of tidewater glaciers are particularly visible signs of the changes taking place in the Arctic due to global warming. The deterioration of these two physical features of Arctic marine systems is occurring faster in the northern Barents Sea than elsewhere in the circumpolar Arctic, making the Norwegian High Arctic an indicator of climate change in the Arctic region as a whole. The changes will undoubtedly have profound effects on marine ecosystems in the High Arctic and consequences for endemic Arctic marine mammal species.
The ARK research programme will use a variety of data time series (occurrence, ecology, diet, contaminant levels, health parameters, infectious diseases, trophic interactions, etc.) to quantitatively assess different hypotheses on climate change impacts on Arctic marine mammals: 1) Habitat decline will lead to declines in ice-dependent species, changes in distribution patterns and, in the long term, species extinction. 2) Endemic species will increasingly compete with temperate species, which are expanding their habitats. 3) Exposure to new pathogens and increased levels of pollutants will have a negative impact on endemic species. 4) Atlantification of food webs will negatively impact Arctic species and affect the entire Arctic ecosystem.
Within the ARK project, the Kongsfjord, on the west coast of Spitsbergen, will be used in a case-study approach to investigate changes in the ecosystem, apply physical-biochemical food web models and complex risk analyses to make predictions and provide management information.

Cooperation Partners:

Kooperationsprojekt mit dem Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, 331.800 EUR

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, 215.581 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out at DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
The DIL leads the work package that focuses on optimising and up-scaling ultrasound (US). Firstly, an extensive literature review on microbial decontamination by US in food and model systems was conducted. It was found that manothermosonication (MTS), a technology that combines mild thermal treatment, elevated pressure, and sonication, is the most promising approach and a potential alternative to traditional thermal pasteurisation of liquid whole egg. Consequently, the DIL developed an MTS prototype that can be used for experimental work with Salmonella Enteritidis. The results showed that MTS can provide the same level of food safety as conventional pasteurisation but with a lower thermal load, suggesting potential food quality benefits confirmed by work on physico-chemical, functional, and protein properties. In addition, sustainability studies using the life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology revealed a lower energy demand in MTS pasteurisation. As a final part of the project, a computational fluid dynamics simulation will be performed to design industrial MTS treatments for continuous application.

Cooperation Partners:

External cooperation partners:

Wageningen University, L-Università ta' Malta,

University of Reading,

Elea Vertriebs- und Vermarktungsgesellschaft mbH,

Leibniz Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.,

Sociedade de Estudos de Analise Sensorial a Produtos Alimentares,

Stichting Wageningen Research,

Hyperbaric,

Arla Foods,

Unilever Research and Development Vlaardingen BV,

Koninklijke Euroma BV,

Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.

Funding: BMEL, ERA-NET, 117.043 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out on DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
With CLIMAQUA an innovative process for the conversion and recycling of aquaculture side streams to feed based on A. platensis is created, which in turn can be used in aquaculture. The aim is to significantly reduce the high greenhouse gas emissions from aquaculture, especially for feed production, by integrating A. platensis into biomass / feed production. Geographical and site-specific features (temperature, length of daylight, etc.) are taken into account in order to obtain an almost completely digestible algae-based feed for salmon and catfish farming and thereby establish a circulatory system that is economically and ecologically sound. In addition, CLIMAQUA examines climate change-related aspects of aquaculture in two regions of the world: The use of innovative technologies in aquaculture is adapted to the climatic conditions and promotes the implementation of sustainable and local food systems.