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Illustration von Nervenzellen
News
Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have contributed to a study by the Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) that has uncovered a new mechanism of neuron damage in the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Until now, it was unclear how inflammation in MS reduces protein degradation and leads to their harmful accumulation in neurons. A combination of new molecular biological, biochemical, and genetic methods enabled the international research team to identify a previously unknown mechanism of impaired protein degradation in inflamed neurons and its key regulator, the immunoproteasome.
18.06.2025
Electron microscope image of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, illustrating the differences in the size of the bacterial cells.
News
Despite being genetically identical, bacteria can vary considerably in shape and size. Whether these variations affect bacterial function has remained an open question. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Chair of Microbiology of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) have now characterized the functional differences between various forms of the gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. They demonstrated a link between cell type and metabolic function. These findings offer deeper insights into microbial gut diversity and pave the way for new possibilities in microbiome-based therapies. The study was recently published in the journal Cell Reports.
17.06.2025
Students and lecturers of the NOZGEKA Master program in Malawi
News
An efficient global pandemic preparedness and response requires experts who are trained to perform epidemiological studies and infectious disease modelling. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) leads the consortium NOZGEKA with the aim of establishing a Master of Science in Public Health with a focus on infectious disease epidemiology in Malawi. The University of Münster and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, and University of Livingstonia (UNILIA) and Mzuzu University (MZUNI) in Malawi are collaborators in the consortium.
17.06.2025
CiiM coordinator Jennifer Debarry presents the CiiM Founders's Award to Michael Manns
News
The CiiM Founders' Award was given to Prof. Michael Manns at the fifth meeting of the CiiM Directorate. The award, made from a concrete core and larch wood from the future CiiM building, honors his outstanding commitment to the founding and establishment of the Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM). The CiiM is a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH).
16.06.2025
Portrait Prof. Claus-Michael Lehr
News
Every year, the Controlled Release Society (CRS) honors outstanding individuals who have significantly advanced the field of drug delivery. This year, Prof. Claus-Michael Lehr has been awarded the CRS Distinguished Service Award for his long-standing commitment to the society and his influential contributions to pharmaceutical science.
12.06.2025
Three intestinal organoids (gray) with spreading Shigella infection (green)
News
Thanks to lab-grown miniature intestines, researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg in collaboration with Uppsala University in Sweden have successfully mapped how aggressive Shigella bacteria infect the human gut. The study, published today in the journal Nature Genetics, opens the door to using cultured human mini-organs to investigate a wide range of other serious infections.
12.06.2025

HZI in the media

at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB) in Würzburg has

10.09.2025
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Phys.org

Leiter der Abteilung Chemische Biologie am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig www.helmholtz-hzi.de ...

10.09.2025
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BR Bayerischer Rundfunk

... at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg. The institute is a ...

09.09.2025
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Analytik NEWS

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) und assoziiertes Mitglied des Helmholtz-Instituts für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI).

08.09.2025
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Verband Deutscher Biologen e.V.

and manufactured the investigational product. The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) contributed through the

07.09.2025
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ScienceDaily

and an associate member of the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI).

 

Additional collaborators included Professors

04.09.2025
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Phys.org

JMU) Würzburg und ein Forscher vom Helmholtz-Institut für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI) mit ihren Bewerbungen ...

04.09.2025
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Open PR.de

Studie und Hersteller des Prüfpräparats. Das Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) war bei ...

03.09.2025
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Biermann Medizin

Das undatierte Foto vom Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) zeigt die elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahme von EHEC-Bakterien. © ...

02.09.2025
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MSN Deutschland

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