Newsroom

CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing has been used for a large variety of applications. The system requires guide RNAs, whose sequence specifically determines the site where DNA or RNA modification occurs. Scientists at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) describe a powerful means to assemble CRISPR arrays, part of CRISPR-Cas systems that encode multiple guida RNAs. Assembled CRISPR arrays can then be used to direct the gene editing machine to multiple parallel targets. The HIRI is a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. The novel tool CRATES enabled Prof Chase Beisel and his research group “Synthetic Biology of RNA” to gain new insights into the biology of CRISPR-Cas systems.

Mikroben und ihr Vorkommen stehen im Fokus der Veranstaltungsreihe „KrankheitsErregend“ des HZI. In diesem Jahr findet die Reihe in Kooperation mit dem Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig statt und setzt sich aus zwei Lesungen und einem Science Slam zusammen. Den Auftakt macht die Mikrobiologin und HZI-Pressesprecherin Susanne Thiele. Am 14. November 2019 liest sie im Haus der Wissenschaft aus ihrem aktuellen Sachbuch „Zu Risiken und Nebenwirkungen fragen Sie Ihre Türklinke“ (2019) und nimmt das Publikum mit auf eine Mikroben-Entdeckungstour durch die eigenen vier Wände.

Mark Brönstrup, head of the research group "Chemical Biology", and Till Strowig, head of the research group "Microbial Immune Regulation", talk about the current antibiotics research and how it is related to microbial research.

This year's HIPS symposium on 27 and 28 June focused on the fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the HIPS, the expert audience had two days to inform and exchange information about the latest results in the field of antibiotic research.

A year after its 10th birthday, numerous changes are on the agenda at TWINCORE. Ulrich Kalinke, Scientific Director of the Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, speaks to us about clinician scientists, big data and new research topics

The CRISPR-Cas system is in the spotlight for its ability to precisely modify the DNA of human cells. The system is derived from bacteria that use it to protect themselves from invading viruses. Prof. Peter Fineran studies bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems, including their regulation, at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He has received a Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers and is currently visiting the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU) and the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), a joint institution of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and JMU.