Article - 21/11/2011 Johannes Huebner's interest in intestinal bacteria and their sweet-sour capsule Some Enterococcus species are common commensal organisms in human intestines and other species are used in raw-milk cheese where they enhance flavour development. On the negative side enterococci are also a common cause of hospital-acquired infections. Prof. Dr. Johannes Huebner from the Freiburg University Medical Centre is hoping that the bacterias capsular polysaccharides might at some point in the future be used as a vaccine opening the door…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/johannes-huebner-s-interest-in-intestinal-bacteria-and-their-sweet-sour-capsule
Article - 20/11/2011 Can probiotic lactic acid bacteria protect the intestines against pathogens? Nutrition scientists from the Max Rubner-Institut MRI in Karlsruhe are investigating how human pathogens and probiotic bacterial strains interact with each other in the human gastrointestinal tract. Are probiotic bacteria in yoghurt or in pickled vegetables for example able to reduce the health risk posed by pathogenic bacteria?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/can-probiotic-lactic-acid-bacteria-protect-the-intestines-against-pathogens
Article - 14/11/2011 Marina Freudenberg and Chris Galanos – more than 40 years of bacterial defence research This years Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology was awarded to three renowned scientists one of whom is the American Bruce Beutler who was instrumental in clarifying the structure of the mammalian Toll-like 4 TLR4 receptor. Prof. Dr. med. Marina Freudenberg and Dr. Dr. h.c. Chris Galanos from the Freiburg-based Max Planck Institute MPI of Immunobiology and Epigenetics have co-authored the key publication that led to the award of the Nobel Prize…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/marina-freudenberg-and-chris-galanos-more-than-40-years-of-bacterial-defence-research
Press release - 24/08/2011 The project ANTIGONE aims at responding to unexpected epidemic threats The European Commission has decided to allocate an additional 12 million euro from the EU's Research Framework Programme to reinforce Europe's capacity for tackling pathogens like the virulent Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria that recently infected close to 4,000 people in Europe and killed 46. The project will also try to identify possible ways of eradicating diseases and draw lessons that may help prevent threats in the future.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/the-project-antigone-aims-at-responding-to-unexpected-epidemic-threats
Article - 22/08/2011 Dieter Spiteller is taking an in-depth look at the chemistry of microbial symbionts Prof. Dr. Dieter Spiteller, head of the new Department of Chemical Ecology at the University of Konstanz, is investigating how organisms interact with each other by way of chemical signals, antibiotics and toxins. Spiteller and his team of researchers are using leafcutter ants endemic to South and Central America as one of several research objects.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dieter-spiteller-is-taking-an-in-depth-look-at-the-chemistry-of-microbial-symbionts
Press release - 04/08/2011 Testing water quality - Test kit makes in situ testing easy Moisture and warmth create the ideal living conditions for a wide range of micro-organisms which can pose a risk to human health. Now, a new quick testing kit for bacteria means that the microbiological contamination of water or other surfaces can be measured directly in situ, with no need for expensive and time-consuming laboratory tests.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/testing-water-quality-test-kit-makes-in-situ-testing-easy
Press release - 21/04/2011 Scientists describe temperature compensation mechanism in bacteria Temperature fluctuations have an adverse effect on most living organisms. Mammals and birds have intricate systems to keep their body temperatures constant. Though primitive coliform bacteria do not possess such systems, they still manage to offset these fluctuations. Scientists at Heidelberg University’s Centre for Molecular Biology have found out how this “bacterial thermostat” works by investigating a model organism, the intestinal bacterium…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/scientists-describe-temperature-compensation-mechanism-in-bacteria
Press release - 21/04/2011 Gut bacteria could help with diagnostics and influence treatments In the future, when you walk into a doctor’s surgery or hospital, you could be asked not just about your allergies and blood group, but also about your gut type. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and collaborators in the international MetaHIT consortium, have found that humans have three different gut types.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/gut-bacteria-could-help-with-diagnostics-and-influence-treatments
Article - 04/04/2011 FreiBiotics GmbH – new drugs against resistant bacteria Bacteria adapt quickly to their environment and also to antibiotics. Many of the antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections have become ineffective as a great many bacteria have become resistant to them. Freiburg-based FreiBiotics GmbH is looking for completely new classes of antimicrobial substances. A screening method that has been developed over the last few years based on biosensors makes the identification of new substance classes more…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/freibiotics-gmbh-new-drugs-against-resistant-bacteria
Press release - 30/03/2011 Bacteria poison themselves from within The research group led by Anton Meinhart at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg has shown that proteins from the zeta toxin group trigger a self-destructive mechanism in bacteria. The triggers for this bacterial suicide are toxin/antitoxin systems that play an important role in the hereditary transmission of resistance and virulence genes. The scientists have thus found a valuable new tool for the development of new…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/bacteria-poison-themselves-from-within
Article - 20/03/2011 Non-pathogenic bacteria for the treatment and prevention of allergies Researchers and physicians from the Department of Dermatology at Tübingen University Hospital are investigating huge numbers of non-pathogenic bacteria with the aim of shedding light on their potential for the prevention and treatment of allergies. The mode of action of highly promising candidates is being investigated in further detail. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/non-pathogenic-bacteria-for-the-treatment-and-prevention-of-allergies
Article - 08/11/2010 Molecular biology assisted by information theory What do the Internet and mobile communication have in common with the division of yeast cells and viruses? Quite a lot, says Martin Bossert, professor at the Institute of Telecommunication Technology and Applied Information Theory in Ulm. The 55-year-old engineer coordinates an interdisciplinary priority programme of the German Research Foundation (DFG, SPP 1395 Information and Communication Theory in Molecular Biology) that applies information…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/molecular-biology-assisted-by-information-theory
Article - 04/11/2010 Stefan Günther – Software for text and cell jungles Junior professor Dr. Stefan Günther from the Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Freiburg has a long-standing interest in computer sciences and is now developing software to model three-dimensional protein structures. This enables him to predict interaction mechanisms between therapeutic substances and cellular enzymes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/stefan-guenther-software-for-text-and-cell-jungles
Article - 17/10/2010 A high-tech strategy to become a reference laboratory The Konstanz-based Labor Dr. Brunner is the first medical laboratory in Germany to use a worldwide revolutionary instrument for liquid sample processing in bacteriological laboratories. The Walk-Away Specimen Processor (WASP) is a faster and more reliable processor that automatically identifies resistant pathogens such as MRSA or ESBL-type bacteria that have become part of the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-high-tech-strategy-to-become-a-reference-laboratory
Article - 14/10/2010 Understanding what happens in dough In cooperation with the Nestl Research Centre Dr. Helmut Trautmann with his company abiotec AG has developed a gas volume monitor for the analysis of dough samples. The monitor makes an important contribution to the development as well as to the quality assurance of food. In addition to being used in the food technology sector the highly sensitive measurement device can also be used in the pharmaceutical and environmental sectors for example in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/understanding-what-happens-in-dough
Article - 11/10/2010 Georg Sprenger - virtuoso of bacterial metabolism manipulation Microorganisms can be taught to do things that they are unable to do naturally. Bacterial metabolisms can be changed in order to make the bacteria produce new products and convert new substrates. In addition, existing bacterial conversion strategies can be optimised for biotechnological applications. Prof. Dr. Georg Sprenger is the head of the Institute of Microbiology at the University of Stuttgart and he is an expert in this field.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/georg-sprenger-virtuoso-of-bacterial-metabolism-manipulation
Article - 18/09/2010 Empa Testmaterials: assessing the effectiveness of washing processes Empa Testmaterials AG focuses on the research and development of test systems and materials that enable biofilm to be successfully removed from washing machines as well as controlling the level of hygiene of individual wash cycles. As a competence centre in washing and cleaning the company specialises in the assessment of washing and cleaning processes in terms of effectiveness energy efficiency damage and hygiene.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/empa-testmaterials-assessing-the-effectiveness-of-washing-processes
Article - 30/08/2010 How cancer-causing bacteria reached the South Seas in outrigger canoes The bacterium Helicobacter pylori causes gastric ulcers and gastric cancer. The prehistoric great migrations of human populations, including the expansion of the Austronesians across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, can be reconstructed in precise detail from the genetic makeup of different Helicobacter strains. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/how-cancer-causing-bacteria-reached-the-south-seas-in-outrigger-canoes
Dossier - 30/08/2010 Disease prevention through better diagnostics “Classical treatment approaches are not the only way to ensure good health, rehabilitation and care. In fact, it is envisaged that more effective prevention will contribute to halting the development of diseases and maintaining good health. Prevention is designed to prevent health risks and diseases, make them less likely and delay their onset.” (Declaration of the German government; Official Records of Parliament 17/845, 26th February 2010) https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/disease-prevention-through-better-diagnostics
Article - 01/08/2010 Manfred Kist – 25 years of fascination for a stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori is a genus of bacteria that inhabits the human stomach. The bacteria can cause duodenal and gastric ulcers and are also linked to the development of gastric cancer. Prof. Dr. Manfred Kist from the Freiburg University Medical Centre has spent around 25 years of his scientific career on investigating H. pylori a bent rod-shaped bacterium.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/manfred-kist-25-years-of-fascination-for-a-stomach-bacterium
Article - 15/07/2010 A special focus on intercellular mediators Transmembrane proteins constitute around one third of all cellular proteins. Around half of all drugs that are currently on the market target the function of a specific class of transmembrane proteins, i.e. the G-protein coupled receptors. However, little is yet known about how transmembrane proteins are integrated into the membranes and how they are folded. Dr. Jörg H. Kleinschmidt hopes to shed light into the mechanisms of membrane protein…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-special-focus-on-intercellular-mediators
Article - 14/06/2010 Mycoplasma bacteria as models for minimal cells Bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma are one of the smallest self-replicating cells and serve as model organisms in synthetic biology research for investigating essential life functions as well as being used as chassis for novel, tailor-made biosyntheses. Researchers from Heidelberg are among the groups who focus predominantly on investigating mycoplasma bacteria as minimal organisms.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/mycoplasma-bacteria-as-models-for-minimal-cells
Article - 11/06/2010 Recycling of bacterial cell wall constituents Bacterial cells are focused on growth and proliferation. These processes are initiated by cellular enzymes that break up the cell wall material murein introduce new material and degrade material that is no longer needed. And all this in large amounts about 50 per cent of murein are degraded and newly formed turnover per cell generation. Dr. Christoph Mayer and his team from the University of Constance have shown that the cells carry out effective…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/recycling-of-bacterial-cell-wall-constituents
Press release - 17/03/2010 Bacterial balance that keeps us healthy Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, working within the European project MetaHIT and in collaboration with colleagues at the Beijing Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, China, established a reference gene set for the human gut microbiome – a catalogue of the microbe genes present in the human gut. Their work proves that high-throughput techniques can be used to sequence environmental samples, and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/bacterial-balance-that-keeps-us-healthy
Article - 15/03/2010 Cystic fibrosis therapy is making good progress Thirty years ago cystic fibrosis CF formerly also known as mucoviscidosis was considered to be a disease that only affected children. Hardly any children with this hereditary metabolic disease ever reached early adulthood. Since then both the therapy and the life expectancy of CF patients have improved considerably. Dr. Gerd Döring from Tübingen is investigating the occurrence of respiratory tract defects that are common in CF patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cystic-fibrosis-therapy-is-making-good-progress