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Microscopic image of cells infected with RSV. Green: RSV-F protein labelled with GFP in the cytoplasm of the cells, magenta: RSV-F protein, blue: cell nuclei.
News
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children. To date, there is neither an antiviral therapy against the virus nor a vaccination for children. This is why researchers led by Thomas Pietschmann at TWINCORE, a joint institution of Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, are looking for new active substances against RSV. In a large-scale study, they have now identified lonafarnib as a promising candidate. They have published their results in the journal Nature Communications.
12.02.2024
Sarah Reichardt, Alexander Westermann, Gianluca Prezza and Chase Beisel
News
Researchers from the Würzburg Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) deployed CRISPR interference for the first time for the functional characterization of the gut mutualist Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. They identified a small ribonucleic acid (sRNA) that modulates the microorganisms' growth in the presence of bile. The findings should contribute to a better understanding of the bacterium’s lifestyle in its native environment, the human intestine, and to the development of clinical applications. The study was published in the journal PNAS.
06.02.2024
ADWO Logo
News
As Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany, we emphatically condemn all and any anti-democratic and inhumane endeavours. We vehemently reject the racist statements that have circulated in recent weeks. They are in no way compatible with the values of our organisations. United, we oppose them in the clearest possible terms.
05.02.2024
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News
On Friday, February 2, 2024, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR) announced which proposals for new Clusters of Excellence will be invited to submit full proposals. Saarland University (UdS) has successfully cleared this first hurdle with its proposal "nextAID³ - Next Generation of Al-driven Drug Discovery and Development".
02.02.2024
Group photo
News
The interplay between ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins is not only important for maintaining cellular homeostasis but is also at the center of the tug-of-war between virus and host. Until now, there has been no method to globally map direct interactions of individual RNA regions in an unbiased fashion without the need for genetic modification of the target RNA or cell. Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in the US have now developed a breakthrough tool that overcomes this limitation. Their findings were recently published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.
01.02.2024
Two chimpanzees sitting next to each other
News
An important question in modern life science and medical research is how the microorganisms living in and on a body influence the life processes and thus health and disease of the host organism. Scientists at Kiel University and the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), assume that there are connections between the entirety of the body's microbial colonization, the so-called microbiome, and the development of diseases. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in particular is apparently closely linked to the composition and disturbance of the microbiome. At the same time, it is difficult to define a healthy normal state of the human microbial colonization, as it is influenced by many factors and the individual composition varies from person to person.
30.01.2024

HZI in the media

... Vakzinologie und angewandte Mikrobiologie am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung. Die M2-Membranproteinhemmer verhindern ...

02.11.2025
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Augsburger Allgemeine

... etwas dran ist“, erklärt Biologe Marc Stadler vom Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung gegenüber der Barmer-Krankenkasse. „Es ...

30.10.2025
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bild der wissenschaft

could be reintroduced at any time. Epidemiologists at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) have now shown that many people do

23.10.2025
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MSN.com

... eingeschleppt werden könnte. Epidemiolog:innen des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) haben nun gezeigt, dass ...

23.10.2025
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innovations report

this development, a research team at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), in collaboration with the Swiss

22.10.2025
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Phys.org

Malaria-Medikamentes ermöglichen könnte. Das HIPS ist ein Standort des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung in Zusammenarbeit mit ...

22.10.2025
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Verband Deutscher Biologen e.V.

(Bild: DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c08354 / Hips / CC BY 4.0) Wissenschaftler am Hips entwickelten eine Plattform zur Produktion von Furanoliden, die effektiv gegen Bakterien und Krebszellen wirken können und vielversprechende Wirkstoffe darstellen.

21.10.2025
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PROCESS

at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), in partnership with the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI

20.10.2025
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Bioengineer.org

their biological activity. HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in collaboration with Saarland University.

20.10.2025
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Phys.org

... die Abteilung „Experimentelle Immunologie“ am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig, lehrt als Professor an ...

17.10.2025
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Deutsches Ärzteblatt

Einrichtungen als nationale assoziierte Partner: das Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung Braunschweig, die Universität Bayreuth, das

17.10.2025
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AlphaGalileo

... diesem Ergebnis kommt ein Forschungsteam des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Zusammenarbeit mit der ...

14.10.2025
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Deutsches Ärzteblatt

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