Healthcare industry

Press release - 02/11/2011

Using Viruses to Fight Brain Tumors

Parvoviruses can enter and kill cancer cells, but they do not cause disease in humans. Since 1992, scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have been studying these viruses with the aim of developing a viral therapy against dangerous brain tumors that are almost impossible to treat.

Article - 17/10/2011

Papillomaviruses as cancer-causing agents and how they can be fought off

Studies presented at the recent International Papillomavirus Conference in Berlin demonstrate that vaccination can prevent infection with the types of HPV that cause the majority of cervical cancers. New improved vaccines to prevent HPV infections as well as therapeutic vaccines that are effective in people that are already infected are currently being developed. In addition, research has shown that other cancers can also be caused by infective…

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.

Article - 29/07/2011

Labor Dr. Merk und Kollegen - Viruses under control

It is difficult to imagine how Ochsenhausen-based Labor Dr. Merk und Kollegen (LMK) would be able to develop, produce and test medical products for bacterial and viral contaminations without using cell cultures. The medium-sized company also produces viruses for testing and has stored more than 80 different viruses – enveloped and non-enveloped ones, animal and human pathogens – at -80˚C.

Article - 25/07/2011

Silke Brüderlein has “green fingers” for cell cultures

Many researchers in the biosciences work with cell cultures, but not all of them seem to understand them at a deeper level. The biologist Silke Brüderlein from the Institute of Pathology in Ulm is a specialist in cell culture and is well aware of the problems that might arise when working with cell cultures.

Article - 25/07/2011

Christian Thoma – the control of translation enables the rapid regulation of cellular processes

Heisenberg fellow PD Dr. Christian Thoma from the Freiburg University Medical Centre has been focusing on the regulation of translation for a number of years and has established a method that enables him to investigate translation on the molecular level. Thoma and his team have come a step closer to their goal of finding targets for the therapy of cancer and hepatitis C.

An international research project coordinated at Heidelberg University revolves around the development of new mathematical methods for investigating the interaction between virus and host cell as exemplified by the hepatitis C virus. The integrated “PathoSys” project assembles ten research groups of virologists, systems biologists, mathematicians, computer scientists, bioinformaticians and molecular biologists from Germany, France, Cyprus,…

Press release - 19/03/2011

Detailed insights into how HI viruses leave their host cells

Highly developed microscope technology makes it possible: researchers led by Dr. Barbara Müller of the Department of Infectiology at Heidelberg University and by Professor Don C. Lamb from the University of Munich, have for the first time ever been able to demonstrate in detail how specific proteins of human immune cells interact with HIV components to enable them to leave the infected cells.

Article - 14/02/2011

A molecule that enables local virus defence

Dr. Markus Mordstein has spent the last four years as a doctoral student at the University of Freiburg investigating the previously relatively unknown interferon lambda. He has been able to show that this molecule has similar protective functions to type I interferons and he has also found that it is far more selective in terms of the site where it exerts its effect.

Press release - 30/01/2011

Door opener for influenza viruses

An international group of researchers, including scientists from the University of Tübingen, has deciphered mechanisms that enable the initiation and also the inhibition of influenza virus infections. The importin alpha-7 variant plays a crucial role in the ability of influenza A viruses to infect humans.

Article - 03/12/2010

Review: Science meets Business Day 2010 (part I)

Germinating seeds biosensors in the human body deaf people learning to hear again and new approaches to combat the flu virus the lectures held at the Science meets Business Day which concluded this years BioValley Science Week once again highlighted the innovations brought about through the joint efforts of research and industrial players on the Upper Rhine.

Article - 03/12/2010

Review: Science meets Business Day 2010 (part II)

How can plant physiologists and seed developers work together to achieve an understanding of the processes happening in the germinating plant embryo in order to improve the seed quality of sugar beet? How can virologists find new ways to switch off the flu virus and develop a marketable vaccine in cooperation with industrial partners?

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.

Press release - 01/11/2010

A virus discloses its secret: how does JCV infect body cells?

Viruses can infect cells when they detect specific attachment sites on the cells’ surface. An international group of researchers, including biochemists from Tübingen, have now discovered the molecular mechanism by which the JCV polyomavirus attaches to these receptors. The researchers deciphered the atomic structure of the virus and for the first time ever were able to prevent the virus from attaching to the host cell and causing infection.

GENOVAC and Inserm co-develop a novel antibody-based approach for prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

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)

Article - 30/08/2010

Diagnostics for the early detection of cervical cancer

The Pap test is regarded as the most successful test for cancer ever, and has saved the lives of many women. However, the test is associated with several weaknesses. The Heidelberg-based in vitro diagnostics company mtm laboratories AG develops and commercialises highly sensitive and highly specific immunochemical tests that provide greater reliability. These tests have the potential to revolutionise the early detection of cervical cancer.

Press release - 21/07/2010

One Million for Cancer Research from Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation

When Harald zur Hausen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2008, Manfred Lautenschläger spontaneously offered to support the Nobel laureate’s scientific work by funding a new research team. These funds will now go to Angelika Riemer, a young scientist who plans to advance the development of a vaccine which is able to cure existing infections with carcinogenic human papillomaviruses at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches…

Dossier - 10/07/2010

Membrane proteins

Around thirty per cent of all cellular proteins are located in or on a biological membrane. Numerous diseases are associated with defects in these proteins. It is estimated that around 50 per cent of all drugs developed by the pharmaceutical industry in the future will target the different membranes of cells. However it is quite difficult to biochemically investigate biological membranes. These are the many reasons why many research groups and…

Press release - 05/07/2010

AnDiaTec - Real cowboys have heard of Kornwestheim

AnDiaTec GmbH & Co. KG from Kornwestheim is in high demand worldwide as a partner specialising in detection methods for bacteria and viruses. The company is a world market leader in real time PCR Kits for the detection of noroviruses. The U.S. Ministry of Agriculture even draws on the expertise of AnDiaTec in relation to virus infections in cattle. After an intensive period of research and development, the company is now expanding its sales…

Article - 03/07/2010

Erbasens: Using the power of nature

Before setting up her own company biologist Dr. Elke Schulz amassed a wealth of knowledge in the pharmaceutical industry. Now she harnesses the power of plants to develop and sell dietary supplements and natural cosmetics. Her company Erbasens specialises in combining high-quality oils and plant essences to create products such as Paramirum that safeguards the effectiveness of the immune system and promotes the bodys defence systems.

Press release - 14/05/2010

Viruses against cancer: complete regression of malignant brain tumours after treatment with parvoviruses

Studies by scientists from the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) have shown that advanced glioblastomas regressed completely in rats after treatment with parvoviruses, thus significantly increasing the survival time compared with untreated animals. Parvoviruses do not cause any disease symptoms in humans and the rats treated did not show any undesired side effects, either. A clinical phase I trial on parvovirus treatment of patients with…

Article - 19/04/2010

Trying to get a virus to reveal its tricks

The Thogoto virus is an exotic virus that presents virtually no danger to humans. A group of virologists led by Prof. Dr. Georg Kochs at the Freiburg University Medical Centre are using the virus as model system for its particular suitability in certain experiments. The group is investigating how the virus evades the antiviral defence of the infected host.

Press release - 30/03/2010

Mediagnost GmbH - successfull since 25 years

Mediagnost Gesellschaft für Forschung und Herstellung von Diagnostika GmbH in Reutlingen is one of the oldest biotechnology companies in Germany. Mediagnost offers a broad range of services including the production of antibodies proteins and viruses the analysis of samples and the customisation of raw materials. The company celebrated its 25th anniversary on 19th March 2010 with a series of events.

Article - 26/03/2010

How do killer cells manage to survive?

It is not easy for the body to protect itself once a virus has broken through the body’s lines of defence and caused a chronic infection. This task is made even more difficult when the intruders are viral hepatitis pathogens that attack the liver, the place where immunological tolerance is induced. Jörg Reimann (physician) and Reinhold Schirmbeck (biologist) are working on the development of T-cell-mediated therapeutic vaccination strategies to…