Newsroom

Elderly lady receives vaccination in the upper arm
News
So-called high-dose flu vaccines are available for older people. The reason: their immune system does not always respond sufficiently well to the standard flu vaccines. Why this is the case and the molecular processes behind it are not yet understood. However, in their current research work, scientists from the Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint initiative of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), using a cohort study with around 230 participants over the age of 65, have now been able to identify key molecules. The researchers hope that their findings will help to further increase the immune response to the flu vaccine in older people in the future. The study has been published in the journal “Science Advances”.
30.09.2024
On 21 September 2024 the HZI is holding an Open Day
News
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig is holding an Open Day. All interested people will have the opportunity to visit HZI laboratories and meet scientists on the Science Campus Braunschweig-Süd in the Stöckheim district from 11 am to 4 pm. There will also be many activities especially for children. For example, they can compete in pipetting, make microbes or listen to a scientific lecture for children.
12.09.2024
Elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahme von Viruspartikeln des Grippeerregers Influenza.
News
Annual flu vaccines protect against severe infection, but they vary in efficacy and may not match the most virulent strains of the season. The reality of a universal flu vaccine, which would protect people from all strains, and ideally longer than a single season, remains elusive. This major roadblock is addressed by the INCENTIVE consortium, which is funded by the European Commission and coordinated at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) by Prof. Carlos A. Guzman. Findings published in the Journal of Virology suggest that universal flu vaccines are coming closer.
10.09.2024
Group photo 4 scientists with a large cheque
News
Yesterday, the lighthouse project of the state of Lower Saxony reached its latest milestone: At the second portfolio conference of the Institute for Biomedical Translation (IBT) Lower Saxony, a high-caliber jury selected projects from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School that will receive funding of over 1.6 million euros. A total of 25 million euros are available to the IBT Lower Saxony until 2028 to accelerate the transfer of cutting-edge research in the life sciences in Lower Saxony and to bring it out into the world in the form of startups and entrepreneurial ideas.
28.08.2024
Marco Galardini (left) and Maureen Obara in the lab.
News
Certain changes in the genetic material of pathogens can alter their ability to infect human cells or protect them better from defense by the immune system. Researchers were able to observe this effect particularly impressive in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. During the coronavirus pandemic, an interdisciplinary team at TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research in Hanover, investigated the interaction between pairs of mutations that might have triggered several of these changes in infectivity and immune escape. They have now published their findings in the journal Genome Biology. The TWINCORE is a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School (MHH).
23.08.2024
3D illustration of the cytomegalovirus
News
The protective effect of established COVID-19 vaccines is initially very robust, but wanes relatively quickly. This limitation imposes a need for periodic booster shots, which drives vaccine hesitation. In contrast, an innovative vector vaccine developed at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) presents a compelling alternative. It elicits prolonged immune response in animal models, and maintains its efficacy over extended time. The concept employs an animal cytomegalovirus (MCMV; murine cytomegalovirus) as the vector that expresses and delivers the coronavirus spike protein information. Crucially, this vector poses no threat to humans, enhancing the vaccine's safety profile.
20.08.2024

HZI in the media

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healthcare-in-europe.com

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Biermann Medizin

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Apotheken Umschau

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Deutschlandfunk

und leitet das Zoologische Institut. Am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung verantwortet er die Forschungsgruppe „Neuroinflammation

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Zwischengas

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Bionity.COM

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Niedersächsisches Landesjustizportal

... ), und Prof. Christian Sieben , Forschungsgruppenleiter am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), hat zum Ziel, mit der ...

06.07.2026
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Biermann Medizin

Am Exponat des Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland können Besuchende nach wertvollen Bodenbakterien suchen. ...

29.06.2026
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WerbePost - Rheinische Anzeigenblätter

... in einer virtuellen Umgebung testen

 

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

 

interaktives Diorama zu Schleimpilzen und ...

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Niedersächsisches Landesjustizportal

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