Newsroom

Electron micrograph of coccal bacteria growing in chains
News
Influenza viruses can trigger epigenetic changes in the alveolar epithelium, the cell layer that lines the alveoli, permanent changes in gene activity without changing the DNA itself. These changes have a lasting effect on subsequent immune responses and result in the body no longer being able to react appropriately to the bacterial pathogens in the event of a subsequent infection with pneumococci. A research team at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the University Hospital Magdeburg (UMMD) has published new findings on the long-term consequences of an influenza A infection in a mouse model in the journal Cell Communication and Signaling.
04.07.2025
Preparing for historical specimen sampling
Story
From 4 to 6 June 2025, the Department “Pathogen Evolution” led by Prof. Dr. Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) conducted a combined retreat and sampling mission at the Institute of Pathology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna — a key collaboration partner for accessing and studying historical pathological specimens in veterinary medicine. HIOH is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI). The visit focused on collecting around 60 historical tissue samples for molecular genetic analyses related to animal disease research, while also offering time for internal discussions on lab optimization, project development, and team building.
03.07.2025
Electron microscope image
News
If an intestinal inhabitant such as the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) becomes resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause serious health problems if it enters the bloodstream. How can such potentially dangerous multi-resistant bacteria be effectively removed from the gut? Researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), in collaboration with researchers from Hannover Medical School (MHH), explored this question in their latest study.
03.07.2025
Pseudocolored cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
News
An international research team led by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has discovered a new strategy used by the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to adapt to its host. In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researchers demonstrate that epigenetic processes can lead to the emergence of distinct sub-populations within genetically identical bacterial populations. This heterogeneity may be a key for bacteria to establish successful infections.
02.07.2025
Podcast Thumbnail
News
Habitat loss, climate change, and globalization create new transmission routes for pathogens. Therefore, the One Health approach considers humans, animals and nature together. Prof. Fabian Leendertz is founding director of the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) in Greifswald, which links health research, ecology, and prevention to better prepare for future pandemics. In this episode of the HZI podcast “InFact”, Leendertz explains how zoonoses, or diseases that jump from animals to humans, develop, and why protecting the environment is central to this process.
02.07.2025
Portrait Prof. Katharina Schaufler
News
A research project at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), has been awarded the Undine Award 2025 in the “Habitat” category. The prize was presented in Stuttgart. In the award-winning project, a research team led by Prof. Katharina Schaufler is investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the surface water of the Greifswald Bodden. Targeted science communication is also an important part of the project in order to raise public awareness of the issue. Schaufler heads the department “Epidemiology and Ecology of Antimicrobial Resistance” at the HIOH and receives prize money of 20,000 euros and an image film with the Undine Award.
19.06.2025

HZI in the media

before and we just didn’t notice?” asks Fabian Leendertz, director of the Helmholtz Institute for One Health. He points out that wildlife

25.06.2025
|
Resurgence

... Samonellen liegen unter Schwarzlicht im Labor des Helmholtz-Zentrums in Braunschweig. Foto: Peter Steffen/dpa ...

23.06.2025
|
Kurier

Slevogt from the MHH and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (“Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung“; HZI). An application for

23.06.2025
|
Trading View

... der Universität des Saarlandes , des Helmholtz-Instituts für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) und internationalen Teams ...

19.06.2025
|
CHIP

Forschende am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig (Niedersachsen) arbeiten an einer neuer Impfstoff-Technologie, die

18.06.2025
|
17:30 SAT.1 REGIONAL

... machen

 

Die Studie der Wissenschaftler des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig will daher vor ...

18.06.2025
|
Cityblick 24

including Dr. Max Kellner and Prof.‌ Josef Penninger of the⁢ Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), explored this ‌resilience.They

17.06.2025
|
Newsdirectory3

the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Chair of Microbiology of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

17.06.2025
|
Phys.org

Instituts für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI), einem Standort des Braunschweiger Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) ...

17.06.2025
|
DeutschesGesundheitsPortal

Register now for the HZI-Newsletter

and stay up to date!

CAPTCHA image for SPAM prevention If you can't read the word, click here.