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Scientists at TWINCORE have succeeded in identifying two factors that protect liver cells of mice from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These are Cd302, a lectin, and Cr1l, a complement receptor-like protein. The research outlined in this study lays the foundation for the future development of a mouse model for HCV vaccine research. The results are published in the journal Science Advances.

The digestive tract is densely populated with bacteria and other microorganisms. This intestinal microbiota helps the host utilise nutrients. Particularly plant fibres can only be broken down and absorbed with the help of intestinal bacteria. The composition of the microbiota is dynamic and depends, among other factors, on the diet. Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig have shown that the utilisation of the fibre arabinoxylan enables bacteria of the genus Prevotella to play a dominant role in the microbial ecosystem. For the study, the Braunschweig researchers cooperated with the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin. The scientists published their results in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.

Scientific data suggests that many COVID-19 cases are not recorded due to mild and asymptomatic courses of infection. It is therefore not possible to reliably estimate the number of people who have actually been infected or are still infected with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, there is not yet sufficient data on how many people in Germany have already been infected and thus built up a presumed immunity to SARS-CoV-2. However, this data plays an important role in assessing and forecasting the further course of the pandemic. With this in mind, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig is conducting a nationwide project in the district of Reutlingen. The project aims to improve the knowledge about the actual spread of infections with SARS-CoV-2 and the corresponding immunity in different population groups in Germany over time.

The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig is establishing a new Helmholtz Institute in Greifswald, which shall bring together the individual competencies in the field of molecular infection research of the University of Greifswald, University Medicine Greifswald and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in one joint institute of the HZI. The financial means for setting up the Institute - 23 million euros for the new building and more than 35 million euros for the initialisation phase - have now been allocated by the Federal Government and the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In Greifswald, Prof Katharina Riedel is coordinating this initiation phase as provisional founding director.

They are pathogens on contaminated food: Listeria bacteria can cause symptoms such as fever and diarrhoea, lead to premature births or miscarriages, or cause a deadly infection in people with a compromised immune system. Scientists at Technische Universität Braunschweig have found a new biomarker, a molecular feature, for the bacteria and generated new antibodies for the pathogens. The results could be used in diagnostics to further improve diagnostic procedures. The study involved the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures and the Universities Federal do Agreste de Pernambuco and Federal de Pelotas, Brazil. The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Mild or asymptomatic infections with the SARS coronavirus-2 are often not detected. Antibody studies can provide reliable information on what percentage of the population has already been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig is coordinating a nationwide study to determine the spread of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Population samples will be examined in ten selected regions until summer 2021. From 14 October, around 3000 test persons from the city and district of Osnabrück will be invited to take part in the antibody test.