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The molecular biologist Dr Katherine Beckham has received the 2018 Jürgen Wehland Award. She is a scientist at the Hamburg branch of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), working in the research department run by Prof Matthias Wilmanns. Beckham is investigating special molecular tools of bacterial pathogens, through which germs deliver infectious proteins to the cells of its host. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig has granted the Jürgen Wehland Award, endowed with 5000 euros, for the seventh time, thus honouring junior researchers doing important work in infection research.

For researchers like Chase Beisel, the cryptic term CRISPR-Cas is much more than the sophisticated system used by bacteria to defend themselves against virus attacks: It is home to countless genetic engineering possibilities that Beisel hopes to exploit. His goal is to understand the diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems in order to be able to use them against genetic diseases or multi-resistant pathogens, for example. The social dimension of his research plays a decisive role for him: “CRISPR is a wonderful example of basic research that has already led to something that has enormous effects on society,” he says. “However, we must never neglect social exchange about gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR, because in the end our work is useless if society is not prepared to accept it.”

Scientists in Saarbrücken are on a mission to discover natural products from soil bacteria in order to develop these into new medicines for the treatment of infectious diseases. They are asking the public to join their efforts and become part of an ongoing citizen science project launched recently to improve access to regional microbial biodiversity.

Scientists from InSCREENeX GmbH and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have collaborated to develop a technology allowing cells from any tissue to be proliferated in a petri dish without losing the cells' tissue-specific properties. For example, this allows for newly discovered agents to be selectively tested in the cell culture and it provides the ability to examine organ-specific effects. In the meantime, the researchers have fine-tuned their process to the point where only a small number of cells is required as the starting material. Today, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Braunschweig honoured this technology with the 2018 Technology Transfer Award. The award is endowed with 10,000 euros and goes to Dr Tobias May, Dr Roland Schucht and Dr Tom Wahlicht from InSCREENeX, as well as Prof Dagmar Wirth, who is the head of the "Model Systems for Infection and Immunity" research group at the HZI.

On average, every adult in Germany suffers from up to three respiratory infections per year. Although mostly caused by viruses, these infections are sometimes incorrectly treated with antibiotics. Dr. Stefanie Castell, deputy head of the HZI Department of Epidemiology, talks about a training project called WASA (“Wirksamkeit von Antibiotika-Schulungen in der niedergelassenen Ärzteschaft” – effectiveness of trainings on antibiotic prescription in primary care) that should improve the handling of antibiotic prescriptions.

More and more resistant pathogens are spreading that cannot be harmed by traditional antibiotics. They are a great danger to the public health systems throughout the world. Without a major change in medical research and development, diseases that can be treated today may become incurable in just a few years. A small wound on a finger may suddenly turn life-threatening, since more and more bacteria become resistant to common antibiotics. The development of resistance is a natural effect of evolution. Resistance arises during the use of antibiotics as some bacteria that are immune to the medication due to genetic variance survive the treatment and then continue to proliferate. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers antibiotic resistances to be one of the “major threats to global health and food safety”. They cause longer stays in hospital and therefore increasing costs of therapy and higher mortality. The spreading of resistances can be explained by a number of reasons, for example overly eager administration of antibiotics in the treatment of the symptoms of common colds, the use of antibiotics for insufficient periods of time or the improper use in animal husbandry. But one fact is clear: Solutions must be found rapidly by innovative research.