Healthcare industry

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are leaders in the field of diagnosis and analysis of plant viruses. In a two-week Summer School the researchers imparted their knowledge to virologists from all over the world.

Article - 07/11/2011

Daniel Gebhard – a new chapter in the mitochondrial theory of aging

It has been known for quite some time that skin aging and skin cancer are connected with UV radiation. It is believed that mutations in the mitochondrial DNA are major contributors to aging and cancer, which is why in-depth knowledge about the repair mechanisms of skin cells is essential. Daniel Gebhard, doctoral student at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, is investigating the repair capacity of mtDNA in different human skin cell types. He is…

Press release - 29/04/2009

febit Receives European Patent for Gene Extraction Procedure

febit holding gmbh announced today, that the company has been granted the first European patent (EP1436609) for a microarray-based nucleic acid extraction procedure. In conjunction with the US patent US7320862, febit now holds a unique patent position in the dynamic market of sample preparation for second-generation sequencers.

Article - 22/02/2013

Malte Drescher provides insights into cells

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy can deliver information about the structure and dynamics of large molecules and was used by Dr. Malte Drescher from the University of Konstanz to develop a method for the structural analysis of biological macromolecules inside cells. It provides insights into the complex structure of molecules under physiological conditions and is a promising approach for the development of cancer drugs.

Press release - 05/08/2009

New test for safer biomedical research results

In biomedical research with living cells in the culture dish, contamination with bacteria, viruses or other fast-growing cells is always a problem. Scientists of the German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now developed a test system for the fast and cost-effective detection of such contaminations. The new method will contribute to making biomedical research results safer and reproducible.

Article - 06/12/2010

Bioplastics – materials that have the potential to be used in medical technology

At the recent International Symposium on Biopolymers ISBP in Stuttgart scientists discussed the use of biobased plastics for applications in the field of medical technology. The majority of strategies presented at the symposium will only be ready for market in a few years time. However they give an idea as to why bioplastics are likely to be applied to a greater extent in the field of medical technology.

Article - 12/08/2009

More effective extraction of small RNAs

Small RNAs are gaining in importance in research as well as in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. However the potential of these molecules can only be exploited fully if very pure RNAs can be extracted from the cells in sufficiently high quantities. Currently used methods are expensive and only designed for large cell quantities. In addition the operation of the extraction systems is very complicated. A new biochip developed by Dr.…

Article - 20/06/2011

Molecular biologists to celebrate 50th anniversary of Jacob and Monod’s operon model

Leading molecular biologists from around the world came together at a conference jointly organized by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and the Institut Pasteur in Paris between 17th and 20th May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the operon concept published by François Jacob and Jacques Monod in 1961. The scientists discussed concepts and research results influenced by the operon model, which have led to our present…

Article - 11/06/2019

New pathogens in beef and cow's milk contributing to the risk of cancer

A team of researchers led by Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. mult. Harald zur Hausen has discovered a new type of infectious agent in dairy and meat products produced from European cattle that increases the risk for colon and breast cancer. These so-called Bovine Meat and Milk Factors (BMMFs) are small DNA molecules that are similar in sequence to both bacterial plasmids and certain viruses.

Press release - 21/09/2011

Epigenetic changes don’t last

First comprehensive inventory of epigenetic changes over several generations shows that these often do not last and therefore probably have limited effects on long-term evolution. The team around Detlef Weigel, director of the Department for Molecular Biology, focused on one of the most important epigenetic marks, methylation of DNA.

Press release - 03/04/2018

Double success for Heidelberg stem cell researchers

Two awards at once, both carrying high monetary prizes, go to young researchers from the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Research and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM) at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ): Simon Raffel will receive the 2018 Walter Schulz Prize. Simon Haas will share the 2018 Otto Schmeil Prize with his colleague Lars Velten from EMBL.

Article - 08/09/2016

A diamond might make sequencing more accurate

DNA sequencing techniques have been developed along the lines of faster, further, cheaper. State-of-the-art methods make it possible to handle large projects in a relatively short period of time. However, the error rate is still very high. Dr. Maria Fyta and her team at the Institute for Computational Physics at the University of Stuttgart have carried out quantum-transport calculations which suggested that specific chemical modifications in the…

Article - 27/08/2012

The discovery of homeotic genes

Research into the genes that cause erroneous developments in fruit flies have led to one of the most exciting discoveries in the field of developmental biology: the same type of gene that controls early embryonic development in Drosophila, also controls early embryogenesis of other organisms, including humans. These homeotic genes are lined up on the DNA in exactly the same order as they are expressed along the body axis during embryogenesis.

Dossier - 22/08/2011

Stress and molecular defence mechanisms

Organisms can experience stress from exposure to bacteria and pathogenic fungi; in fact, stress can arise from exposure to any type of environmental influence. As they have evolved, biological cells have developed numerous molecular mechanisms that enable them to survive even in inhospitable conditions. What kind of effects do abiotic stress factors have on plants and human beings? How do cells protect themselves? Are researchers able to increase…

Press release - 27/11/2009

Gene Mutations Underlying Risk for Parkinson's Disease

Two genes containing mutations known to cause rare familial forms of parkinsonism are also associated with the more common, sporadic form of the disease where there is no family history, researchers have found. The finding came in the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) reported to date involving Parkinson's disease.

It began as a service laboratory for DNA sequencing and within a few years became a worldwide network of highly specialised biotech companies for molecular biology products. Investments in platform technologies play a key role in this development. Since then the team at Stuttgart-based BioLux GmbH has found that the production of antibodies is its highest revenue business activity.

Press release - 16/11/2009

No-Entry Zones for AIDS Virus

The AIDS virus (HIV) inserts its genetic material into the genome of the infected cell. Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now shown for the first time that the virus almost entirely spares particular sites in the human genetic material in this process. This finding may be useful for developing new, specific AIDS drugs.

Article - 29/11/2010

Against chronic liver inflammation and liver cancer

Chronic hepatitis B and C are the major causes of liver cancer. In contrast to hepatitis B viruses, there is no hepatitis C virus vaccination available. New research carried out by Professor Bartenschlager and his colleagues from Heidelberg might give rise to new strategies for the development of vaccines and medications for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infections.

Article - 04/10/2010

Computer models for underestimated all-rounders

It has now become clear that non-coding RNAs are the puppeteers in cells. Prof. Dr. Rolf Backofens team at the University of Freiburg is developing an indispensable tool for doing just this in the form of computer programmes that generate two-dimensional structural models of these tiny all-rounders.

Article - 06/08/2012

varionostic: specialist in epigenetic analyses

Ulm-based varionostic helps epigenetics researchers to obtain information on gene activity. The company is specifically focused on the analysis of methyl groups (-CH3) that are attached to DNA and turn genes on and off. Just as the field of epigenetics, previously only known to insiders, has emerged as a biomedical area of research, the University of Ulm spin-off has matured and grown over the past six years since it was set up.

Article - 24/10/2009

Molecular switches for gene expression in the embryo

Prof. Dr. Andreas Hecht and his team at the University of Freiburg are investigating one of seven known fundamental signalling systems that are involved in almost all embryonic development processes and that determine the fate of cells. The scientists are mainly interested in gaining insights into why the same molecules initiate different genetic programmes and hence development pathways depending on the cell type where they have their effect.

Article - 17/12/2015

Inhibition of bromodomain affects stem cell differentiation

DNA methylation and histone modification are epigenetic mechanisms that affect gene transcription. Moreover, protein complexes can regulate gene expression by modifying chromatin structure and function. Dr. Thomas Günther and his team from the Center for Clinical Research at the Freiburg University Medical Center are studying the effect of the inhibitor PFI-3 on the BAF complex. This protein complex modifies chromatin structure and controls the…

Scientists at the universities of Tübingen and Mainz have developed a blood test that is able to provide conclusive proof of gene doping. The test is still effective even if the actual doping took place some time before the test. The new test is based on a procedure developed in Tübingen in 2006 that enables transgenic DNA to be detected in the blood. The efficiency of this procedure has now been proven for the first time in laboratory mice.

Press release - 30/06/2011

Cancer treatments: New information from fission yeast

When a cell divides the genetic information in the chromosomes must be passed on error-free to the daughter cells. Researchers at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory in Tübingen are studying this process using fission yeast as a model organism. In cooperation with researchers at the University of Tübingen they succeeded in attributing additional tasks to the Aurora enzymes which were already recognized as important cellular tools for the reliable…

Press release - 08/06/2011

TagCyx Biotechnologies

TagCyx is a research based company located in Yokohama Kanagawa Prefecture. The core technologies of TagCyx are unnatural base pair technologies and nucleic acids stabilization technology.