Article - 05/08/2019 The answer to antibiotic resistance may lie in the microbiome Globally, increasing numbers of bacteria are becoming resistant to common antibiotics. Moreover, many reserve group antibiotics are no longer effective for infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. Researchers in an excellence cluster at the University of Tübingen are investigating an alternative approach to combating bacterial infections. Their goal is to specifically influence the microbiome, the human microbial community.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/answer-to-antibiotic-resistance-may-lie-in-the-microbiome
Article - 26/07/2019 New test assay leads to discovery of new influenza virus infection route Researchers from the University of Freiburg have recently discovered a completely new mechanism that influenza viruses use to infect cells. This discovery was partly made possible by a so-called emulsion coupling assay - an extremely sensitive, digital detection method developed by Actome GmbH in collaboration with scientists from the Freiburg University of Applied Sciences and Hahn-Schickard. The assay is used to count individual molecules and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alternativer-infektionsweg-fuer-grippeviren-durch-neues-testverfahren-entdeckt
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-pathogens-in-beef-and-cows-milk-contributing-to-the-risk-of-cancer
Press release - 04/06/2019 Spindiag’s continued road to success: Expansion of Series A with an additional 4 million euros for market entry Spindiag, a young medtech company in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, announced today the expanded financing of its first Series A. Based on a proprietary microfluidic technology first researched at the company’s mother institute Hahn-Schickard, Spindiag is developing a sustainable platform to diagnose infections and, as a first product, a rapid test for multidrug-resistant bacteria.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/spindiags-continued-road-to-success-expansion-of-series-a-with-an-additional-4-million-euros-for-market-entry
Article - 29/05/2019 Neglected tropical diseases - Gisela Schneider: the burden of disease "Leaving no one behind". The motto of the 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which was signed by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 makes clear that combatting poverty and its consequences is an essential part of sustainable development. The fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is defined as a major aim of the Agenda’s sustainable development goals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) regards twenty…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/neglected-tropical-diseases-gisela-schneider-the-burden-of-disease
Article - 05/03/2019 Vaccination against oncogenic Epstein-Barr viruses Almost all humans are infected with Epstein-Barr viruses (EBV), which are linked to the development of benign diseases such as infectious mononucleosis as well as several cancers. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center have developed a new strategy for creating a vaccine that targets different EBV virus life phases and has the potential to provide effective protection against EBV infection.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vaccination-against-oncogenic-epstein-barr-viruses
Article - 24/01/2019 Scientists to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater In Germany, around 1,500 tonnes of antibiotics per year are administered to humans and animals. As a result, more and more bacteria are developing resistance to common antibiotics. As part of HyReKA, a cooperative project funded by the BMBF, scientists led by Professor Thomas Schwartz from the KIT are investigating how antibiotic-resistant pathogens spread and how they can be prevented from doing so.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/scientists-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-in-wastewater
Press release - 27/09/2018 Three new Clusters of Excellence for Tübingen University takes next hurdle in the German government’s Excellence Strategy funding program. The University of Tübingen is to have three new Clusters of Excellence.As part of the German government’s Excellence Strategy funding forhigher education research, Tübingen will host new outstanding research networks starting in January 2019. Representatives of Germany’s higher education policymakers announced the decision in Bonn on Thursday.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/three-new-clusters-of-excellence-for-tuebingen
Dossier - 28/08/2018 With molecular diagnostics to biomarker-based personalised therapy Diagnosing suitable biomarkers is a prerequisite for tailoring personalised therapies to patient heterogeneity. Genetic tests and genome sequencing play a key role in these diagnoses. Up until now, personalised therapy has achieved the greatest success in the field of oncology. However, personalised treatments are also gaining in importance for treating other diseases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/with-molecular-diagnostics-to-biomarker-based-personalised-therapy
Article - 20/02/2018 New strategies against malaria Malaria, which is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, is still one of the worst infectious human diseases. The parasites have developed resistance against previously effective drugs and new strategies to combat malaria are urgently needed.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-strategies-against-malaria
Press release - 12/12/2017 BRAIN AG and Mannheim University develop 3D skin models for health care and cosmetics Research collaboration in project M2Aind for new real-time and high-resolution screening technologies of 3D skin spheroids. Mannheim University of Applied Sciences builds on expertise in 3D cell culture and advanced live cell imaging. BRAIN contributes unique skin reporter cells, screening compound libraries and market knowledge. Review article in Journal of Cellular Biotechnology. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/brain-ag-and-mannheim-university-develop-3d-skin-models-for-health-care-and-cosmetics
Article - 15/09/2017 Zika virus infections and their consequences Infections caused by mosquito-borne Zika viruses during pregnancy can lead to severe brain defects in babies. The European Union has provided funding of around ten million euros for an international research programme on Zika virus infections in which the University Hospital of Heidelberg plays a key role. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/zika-virus-infections-and-their-consequences
Article - 28/08/2017 SpinDiag GmbH – rapid test makes it difficult for pathogens Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are becoming an increasing problem, especially in hospitals. Infected patients must be isolated as soon as possible. However, appropriate methods for testing patients upon admission to hospital and isolating them if necessary are still lacking. A young biotechnology company from Baden-Württemberg called SpinDiag GmbH has developed a cost-effective method for the rapid testing of microbial resistance in normal…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/spindiag-gmbh-rapid-test-makes-it-difficult-for-pathogens
Article - 22/08/2017 Transgenic mice in influenza research – risk assessment and vaccine development A research team from Freiburg is developing a method for identifying human influenza viruses of animal origin. This could potentially improve measures taken to prevent imminent pandemics. The researchers are working with genetically modified mice. Transgenic mice also play a role in the development of a ’universal’ influenza vaccine. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/transgenic-mice-in-influenza-research-risk-assessment-and-vaccine-development
Article - 08/08/2017 N2B-patch: circumventing the blood-brain barrier There are many medications for treating central nervous system diseases. However, only a fraction of the active pharmaceutical ingredients actually reaches the site where they are needed. The reason for this is the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain and thus prevents many drugs used to treat neurological diseases from effectively penetrating the brain. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/n2b-patch-circumventing-the-blood-brain-barrier
Article - 26/06/2017 Hope for mRNA vaccines despite damper The pressure is on to develop novel vaccines based on messenger RNA and aimed at combating cancer and protecting against pandemics. Although mRNA vaccination as a cancer monotherapy has suffered a setback this year, the industry is nevertheless confident that it will succeed because of existing proof that mRNA vaccines stimulate the body's immune defence.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hope-for-mrna-vaccines-despite-damper
Press release - 22/06/2017 MRI without contrast agents? Yes, with sugar! Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), in collaboration with colleagues from Heidelberg University Hospital, have been able to visualize brain cancer using a novel MRI method. They use a simple sugar solution instead of conventional contrast agents, which can have side effects in the body.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/mri-without-contrast-agents-yes-with-sugar
Article - 01/06/2017 Biotechnology – key technology of the 21st century According to a study published by the German National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) on 5th April, biotechnology is a key technology of the 21st century and has huge innovation potential. What are the trends within the industry and what are the challenges we face?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biotechnology-key-technology-of-the-21st-century
Article - 18/05/2017 ImmuStick – novel rapid test for identifying disease pathogens In some situations such as in the food and pharmaceutical industries or hospitals, a test to identify disease pathogens can be vital. At present, such tests are relatively time-consuming and can take hours or even days to produce results, depending on the pathogen. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart are currently developing a rapid test called ImmuStick which is as easy to use…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/immustick-novel-rapid-test-for-identifying-disease-pathogens
Article - 31/03/2017 A novel mechanism of cancer development Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections occur in almost all adults worldwide and are a high risk factor for some types of cancer. Researchers from Heidelberg have now come up with a novel mechanism that promotes carcinogenesis involving an EBV protein rather than the genome of the virus. The EBV protein BNRF1 induces the excessive amplification of the centrosomes of the spindle apparatus, and leads to chromosomal instability and inaccurate…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-novel-mechanism-of-cancer-development
Article - 23/03/2017 Microdroplets for safe and rapid prenatal diagnoses Although the methods used to carry out amniocentesis are quite sophisticated, there is still a 0.5 percent risk of miscarriage following the intervention. Therefore, an EU-funded project called AngeLab is developing a rapid test that only requires a blood sample of the mother rather than amniotic fluid. The test yields information on the genetic health of the foetus within only a few hours. As part of the project, researchers from the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microdroplets-for-safe-and-rapid-prenatal-diagnoses
Press release - 13/12/2016 Early-diagnosis systems from Baden-Württemberg help prevent the spread of drug-resistant pathogens More and more bacteria are developing resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs. These multidrug-resistant bacteria can impede the action of common antibiotics via mutations or DNA transfer. More than 30,000 people are infected every year with multidrug-resistant bacteria in German hospitals alone. This could be prevented with appropriate hygiene measures and innovative test systems. Innovative test systems that enable reliable and rapid…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/fruehdiagnostik-aus-baden-wuerttemberg-hilft-resistente-erreger-zu-stoppen
Article - 08/11/2016 Towards at-home genetic testing The ability to detect a broad range of conditions and modifications in human, animal, plant and pathogen genes is highly important in the field of medicine for diagnosing diseases and starting therapy as quickly as possible. Chemists at the University of Konstanz have now developed a genetic test that does not need to be carried out in the laboratory and can be evaluated with the naked eye, similar to a pregnancy test. The test would therefore be…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/towards-at-home-genetic-testing
Article - 20/09/2016 CRISPR-Cas has more surprises in store Since 2012, a DFG-funded research group called FOR1680 has been studying CRISPR-Cas, an immune system that unicellular bacteria and arachaea use to protect themselves against attacks from viruses and plasmids. Prof. Dr. Anita Marchfelder, a molecular biologist at Ulm University and coordinator of the FOR1680 research group, and many other researchers were surprised to find that prokaryotes incorporate the genetic material of enemies as a kind of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/crispr-cas-has-more-surprises-in-store
Article - 18/08/2016 Moonlighting proteins can make bacteria pathogenic The mechanism underlying the export of biomolecules from cells remains unknown. Prof. Dr. Friedrich Götz and his team at the Institute of Microbial Genetics at the University of Tübingen have found out that staphylococci can turn into dangerous pathogens by excreting normally harmless enzymes. The researchers believe that the enigmatic excretion of such enzymes is due to a completely new mechanism and are thus planning to carry out further…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/moonlighting-proteins-can-make-bacteria-pathogenic