Article - 13/02/2012 Times are getting harder for thieves - biocoding equals security People can now mark their possessions with artificial DNA thus making it more likely for thieves and people who fence stolen goods to be caught red-handed. Each marker is as unique as a genetic fingerprint and can be easily visualized using UV light. The artificial DNA can also be used to prove ownership. Donald van der Laan CEO of Forensische Markierungstechnologie GmbH based in Schriesheim talks about the sophisticated features of the forensic…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/times-are-getting-harder-for-thieves-biocoding-equals-security
Press release - 01/02/2012 Defects in the packaging of genetic material in malignant brain tumors Glioblastomas are regarded as particularly aggressive brain tumors. In children with glioblastoma, Heidelberg scientists have now discovered genetic alterations that affect the function of DNA packaging proteins known as histones. In a cell, histones serve as coils around which the DNA wraps. At the same time, histones regulate gene activity. Mutations in histone genes have never before been tied to a disease. The group comprising scientists of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/defects-in-the-packaging-of-genetic-material-in-malignant-brain-tumors
Press release - 31/01/2012 HITS Scientist Rebecca Wade receives professorship at the University of Heidelberg Today, Dr. Rebecca Wade, head of the “Molecular and Cellular Modelling” research group at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), has been appointed to the W3 professorship “Computational Structural Biology” (Faculty of Biosciences/HITS) at the University of Heidelberg.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hits-scientist-rebecca-wade-receives-professorship-at-the-university-of-heidelberg
Article - 30/01/2012 Silicone application in medical technology Silicone is flexible, biocompatible and heat-resistant, characteristics that make organosilicone compounds ideal for a wide range of applications in medical technology. Up until now, the broad application of such compounds has been hampered chiefly by the high surface friction of silicone. The Reutlingen-based company Silcos GmbH has developed special methods for the treatment of surfaces that considerably improve the compound's range of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/silicone-application-in-medical-technology
Article - 23/01/2012 Karen Lienkamp: intelligent surface materials fight off microbes Resistant germs are tough and will settle anywhere. They grow on all types of surface which is a major cause for concern for medical doctors and industrial researchers alike. The chemist Dr. Karen Lienkamp Junior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies FRIAS and head of a group of junior researchers at the University of Freiburg develops surface materials for biomedical applications and industrial production facilities. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/karen-lienkamp-intelligent-surface-materials-fight-off-microbes
Article - 23/01/2012 Peter Rodemann – a career in radiobiology Prof. Dr. H. Peter Rodemann has been head of the Division of Radiobiology and Molecular Environmental Research at Tübingen University Hospital for around 20 years. He has been awarded numerous prizes for his outstanding achievements, particularly during the second half of 2011 when he was awarded the Ulrich Hagen Prize by the German Society for Biological Radiation Research as well as being elected member of the German Academy of Sciences…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/peter-rodemann-a-career-in-radiobiology
Article - 16/01/2012 Alexander Titz: molecular design to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become an important cause of infection, and is often picked up in hospitals, especially by patients with weakened immune systems. It can cause respiratory and urinary tract infections, as well as lead to infections on implants and wounds. P. aeruginosa lives in a gel-like matrix, a so-called biofilm that is highly resistant to antibiotics, making it very difficult to eradicate. Dr. Alexander Titz and his team at the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alexander-titz-molecular-design-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria
Article - 19/12/2011 New research training group to investigate bacterial survival strategies The University of Tübingen is to establish a new DFG-funded research training group in which doctoral students from twelve research groups will investigate bacterial survival strategies. The results will contribute to the development of new antimicrobial drugs and also be put to good use in the fields of epidemiology and ecology.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-research-training-group-to-investigate-bacterial-survival-strategies
Press release - 28/11/2011 CeCo Labs develops new method for isolating bacterial cell walls CeCo Labs UG, founded as a spin-off from the University of Tübingen, has developed an internationally unique method for isolating bacterial cell walls. These are used in research to investigate antibiotic resistance, for example. Unlike conventional techniques, the method developed by CeCo Labs is able to supply a very high number of ultra-pure cell walls extremely quickly. Orders have already been placed by customers across the globe.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/ceco-labs-develops-new-method-for-isolating-bacterial-cell-walls
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 - 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 - 24/10/2011 Curetis AG Opens Unyvero™ Cartridge Production Facility Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, announced the opening of its state-of-the-art production facility for disposable Unyvero™ cartridges in Bodelshausen (near Tuebingen, Germany).https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curetis-ag-opens-unyvero-cartridge-production-facility
Article - 19/09/2011 k-labor GmbH – a specialist in material analysis and characterisation k-labor GmbH focuses on the initial inspection of samples for the automotive industry and the testing of a broad range of different materials. k-labor also specialises in environmental simulations and durability testing and offers consulting and the transfer of technologies in the plastics sector. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/k-labor-gmbh-a-specialist-in-material-analysis-and-characterisation
Article - 29/08/2011 Ute Schepers – the therapeutic potential of small RNAs and molecular transporters Small RNAs can specifically interfere with cellular mechanisms; or more precisely, with the cells’ protein biosynthesis machinery. Scientists have therefore decided to exploit this potential by using small RNAs against cancer cells or cells damaged in other ways. But the question arises as to how the small RNAs can reach the site where their role is to prevent the generation of dangerous proteins. Dr. Ute Schepers and her team from the Karlsruhe…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ute-schepers-the-therapeutic-potential-of-small-rnas-and-molecular-transporters
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…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/stress-and-molecular-defence-mechanisms
Article - 22/08/2011 Jörg Overhage investigates how bacteria react to stress Bacteria have been around for a very long time and they will probably still be around in the future. They are able to adapt to any factor that is potentially fatal to cells heat hunger radiation toxic chemicals or immune attacks. However tolerance to stress is not only characteristic of individual bacteria bacteria join forces whenever inhospitable conditions arise. A team of researchers led by Dr. Jörg Overhage at the Karlsruhe Institute of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/joerg-overhage-investigates-how-bacteria-react-to-stress
Press release - 02/08/2011 New peptides to fight ovarian cancer drug resistance Italian and German scientists have designed peptides to target the protein-protein interface of a key enzyme in DNA synthesis crucial for cancer growth. The peptides act by a novel inhibitory mechanism and curb cancer cell growth in drug resistant ovarian cancer cells. The multidisciplinary research project was led by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS).https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-peptides-to-fight-ovarian-cancer-drug-resistance
Article - 04/07/2011 The adhesion of cells to the endothelium and to artificial surfaces Professor Stefan W. Schneider from the Mannheim Medical Faculty is investigating the function of the vascular endothelium and its interaction with blood and tumour cells using microfluidics methods that enable him to measure the adhesion of cells to the walls of blood vessels under physiological flow conditions. As part of an interdisciplinary project, he is investigating the characteristics of wafer-thin surfaces covered with living cells, which…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-adhesion-of-cells-to-the-endothelium-and-to-artificial-surfaces
Dossier - 04/07/2011 Implants of the future: bioactive, corrosion-resistant and antibacterial People’s life expectancy is increasing due to constantly improving medical treatment. One result of this is the greater wear of joints, which then need to be replaced with implants. Increased life expectancy means that the implants remain in the body for much longer and therefore need to be longer lasting. The revision rate of implant materials used in clinical practice is still as much as 10 per cent, particularly in the case of hip and knee…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/implants-of-the-future-bioactive-corrosion-resistant-and-antibacterial
Article - 04/07/2011 Stefan Rensing investigates the evolutionary transition from algae to land plants The biologist Prof. Dr. Stefan Rensing from the University of Freiburg has been involved in introducing the use of computers to the life sciences from the very beginning. His analyses of the moss genomes now help to close an important gap in evolutionary research how did algae become land plants?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/stefan-rensing-investigates-the-evolutionary-transition-from-algae-to-land-plants
Press release - 20/06/2011 CureVac presents new data for prostate and lung cancer vaccines CureVac GmbH presented promising new data for prostate cancer vaccine CV9103 and lung cancer vaccine CV9201 at the ASCO Conference in Chicago. Final trial results confirm safety and excellent antigen-specific immunogenicity of prostate cancer vaccine CV9103. And initial promising data from phase I/IIa trial of lung cancer vaccine CV9201 further supports the potential of CureVac’s RNActive® vaccination technology in cancer immunotherapy and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-presents-new-data-for-prostate-and-lung-cancer-vaccines
Article - 20/06/2011 How plants change their shape – researchers at KIT investigate cytoskeletal processes Organisms have two possibilities when they encounter inhospitable environmental conditions: to run away or to adapt. As plants have no legs, they therefore need to adapt rapidly to unstable environmental conditions. A plant is hugely flexible in terms of its shape and one of the things that makes this possible is its cytoskeleton, a scaffold consisting of specialized filaments. A group of researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/how-plants-change-their-shape-researchers-at-kit-investigate-cytoskeletal-processes
Press release - 19/05/2011 Curetis AG successfully increases Series A financing round to EUR 24.5 million Curetis AG, an innovative molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostic products for infectious diseases, today announced an extension of its Series A financing, bringing the total size of the round to € 24.5 million. CD-Venture joined the funding as a new investor, while all of Curetis' existing VC investors participated in the round. Several private investors also continued to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curetis-ag-successfully-increases-series-a-financing-round-to-eur-24-5-million
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