Article - 02/02/2015 Rentschler Biotechnologie invests in new production plant The Laupheim-based contract manufacturer Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH is greatly expanding its production capacities. The company is investing €24 million in the construction of two 3,000 litre stainless steel bioreactors, which should be operational in early 2017 and will more than double the production capacities for cell culture-derived proteins. Rentschler also announced recently that it was adding a new 2,000 litre single-use bioreactor…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/rentschler-biotechnologie-invests-in-new-production-plant
Article - 22/12/2014 Fighting hepatitis viruses with their own weapons Virologist Prof. Dr. Stephan Urban from the University of Heidelberg has been awarded the DZIF Prize for Translational Infection Research for the discovery and development of a promising peptide drug for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infections. The peptide prevents viruses from entering the liver cells, and is also effective against hepatitis D infection. Hepatitis D is the deadliest of all viral liver diseases and no specific antiviral…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/fighting-hepatitis-viruses-with-their-own-weapons
Article - 15/12/2014 From HIV structure to new AIDS therapies The building blocks of the viral protein capsid are rearranged as HI viruses mature into infectious AIDS-causing agents. Researchers from Heidelberg have made these structural changes visible on the molecular level. The findings could potentially be used for developing much-needed new AIDS therapeutics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/from-hiv-structure-to-new-aids-therapies
Article - 20/10/2014 Michael Schindler: HI virus and host interactions Prof. Dr. Michael Schindler explores the interaction between viruses and their human host cells on the molecular level. His specific interest is HI virus infections and the mechanisms the virus uses to attack the human immune system. Schindler’s eventual aim is to identify a new target for the therapy of HIV infections. In April 2014, Schindler was appointed head of the Department of Molecular Virology of Human Infectious Diseases at the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/michael-schindler-hi-virus-and-host-interactions
Article - 18/08/2014 The use of human genes as medical products In contrast to medications used for treating disease, gene therapy does not use chemical agents to alleviate or cure disease symptoms. Instead, it involves the introduction of a normal copy of a mutated gene to restore the function of a protein. Gene therapy could also be described as a way of restoring the body’s self-healing process. It is an extremely smart idea that enables the sustainable treatment of diseases which cannot usually be…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-use-of-human-genes-as-medical-products
Article - 11/08/2014 dsl-Labor: developing PCR tests for medical diagnostics PCR has become a common application in medical diagnostics, in areas ranging from the detection of microbes to genetic testing. The demand for new tests is huge, given that there is a seemingly endless list of applications for which PCR can be used. dsl-Labor für Molekulargenetische Diagnostik specialises in the development of PCR tests and also gives advice and training to medical laboratory personnel. Veterinarians are among the company’s major…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dsl-labor-developing-pcr-tests-for-medical-diagnostics
Article - 07/04/2014 Christina Wege: from plant viruses to biomaterials Plant viruses can be engineered in many ways for use by and in humans. Amongst other things, they can be used as scaffold structures for bioactive molecules, which might help improve implants. Prof. Dr. Christina Wege from the University of Stuttgart is studying these and many more options for the use of harmless viruses for human application. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/christina-wege-from-plant-viruses-to-biomaterials
Article - 24/03/2014 Vaccine against papillomaviruses protects from skin cancer Papillomaviruses are thought to cause non-melanoma skin cancer in people exposed to UV radiation, especially those who have suppressed immune systems. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Charité University Hospital in Berlin have developed a vaccine that protects mice against such skin tumours. The vaccine is even effective in mice that have previously been infected with papillomaviruses and that have suppressed…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vaccine-against-papillomaviruses-protects-from-skin-cancer
Article - 08/07/2013 Christine Goffinet: independent and successful AIDS researchers Christine Goffinet, 36, from the Institute of Molecular Virology at the University of Ulm has already received numerous awards for her research on AIDS. She was recently awarded a scholarship for postdoctoral lecture qualification under the Margarete von Wrangell Habilitation Programme. However, before she became a virologist, Goffinet chose a career path that was quite different from the standard career path seen on many scientific CVs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/christine-goffinet-independent-and-successful-aids-researchers
Article - 17/05/2013 Dengue fever, the neglected infectious disease Dengue fever is the most common infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease is spreading in Europe and Germany, an upward trend that is due to increased long-distance travel. There are no specific drugs or vaccine for dengue, which is why an international research network has been established to improve the management of the disease. The consortium is coordinated by the Department of Tropical Medicine at Heidelberg University.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dengue-fever-the-neglected-infectious-disease
Article - 08/04/2013 HI-Virus maturation by budding The Heidelberg virologist Hans-Georg Kräusslich and his team are exploring the molecular architecture and morphogenesis of the HI-Virus and the processes occurring at the plasma membrane of the host cell that lead to the release of new viruses and new infections. The budding and maturation processes of HIV particles and the lipid composition of their envelope could be used as targets for the development of new drugs to combat AIDS.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hi-virus-maturation-by-budding
Dossier - 01/04/2013 Retroviruses: from infectious agent to therapeutic assistant Viruses are infectious particles that use the machinery and metabolism of a host cell to replicate. Despite some similarities with accepted forms of life viruses are not considered as such. The family of retroviruses is particularly known for its most notorious representative i. e. the human immunodeficiency virus HIV which leads to AIDS and for which no cure or effective vaccine is currently available. However retroviruses are not only of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/retroviruses-from-infectious-agent-to-therapeutic-assistant
Article - 18/02/2013 AIDS researchers from Ulm to shed light on the success of the HIV-1 M group Frank Kirchhoff AIDS researcher at the University of Ulm has come up with a plausible explanation for the pandemic spread of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 HIV-1 M group and its ability to adapt to the human immune system. In a recent study with colleagues from Germany and abroad Kirchhoff used molecular biology methods to investigate the group and compare it with the relatively rare HIV-1 N group. Kirchhoff hopes that the molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/aids-researchers-from-ulm-to-shed-light-on-the-success-of-the-hiv-1-m-group
Article - 31/12/2012 Diagnosis of myocardial infarction: a drop of blood is all that is required Can myocardial infarction be diagnosed with a single drop of blood? The answer is yes: a new application of the ESEQuant Lateral Flow System developed by QIAGEN now makes this possible. The system, which is able to identify a broad range of bacterial and viral pathogens, including HIV, influenza virus and Chlamydia, was originally developed at the company’s site in Stockach. It has recently been adapted for use in the diagnosis of myocardial…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/diagnosis-of-myocardial-infarction-a-drop-of-blood-is-all-that-is-required
Article - 18/12/2012 Gene therapy medicinal products: the first gene therapy product has been approved – where does the future lie? Is gene therapy close to broad clinical application? Following negative headlines at the end of the 1990s gene therapy had almost disappeared from the public radar to become an issue almost exclusively dealt with by research laboratories. Gene therapy has now reappeared in the public domain since the European Medicines Agency EMA gave the Dutch biotech company uniQure the go-ahead for the application of somatic gene therapy for the treatment of a…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/gene-therapy-medicinal-products-the-first-gene-therapy-product-has-been-approved-where-does-the-futu
Dossier - 05/11/2012 Cancer – basic research, successes and trends Science is approaching cancer treatment by using new systems biology approaches and setting up large-scale multidisciplinary projects such as the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Progress in genome, epigenome and gene expression analyses of cancer cells, new insights into the regulation and interaction of cells gained in cooperation with stem cell research and virus research contributes to gaining a causal understanding of cancer. This…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/cancer-basic-research-successes-and-trends
Press release - 30/10/2012 DKFZ and Genetic Immunity Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop HPV Therapeutic Vaccine Genetic Immunity, Budapest, a leader in immunotherapy technology product development, and DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany) signed a collaborative agreement to develop a DNA-based vaccine for the treatment of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that causes cervical cancer and other cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and oropharynx. Present HPV vaccines (Cervarix, Gardasil) have no therapeutic effect on…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dkfz-and-genetic-immunity-sign-collaboration-agreement-to-develop-hpv-therapeutic-vaccine
Article - 15/10/2012 gerbion®: hunting down pathogens Detecting viruses, bacteria or parasites in human, animal, food and environmental samples is routine for the staff of gerbion GmbH & Co. KG. The company has been using virological, microbiological and serological methods for many years, but is now also using cutting-edge molecular biology methods for detecting pathogens. The founders of the Kornwestheim-based diagnostics company have concentrated on own research work and the development of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/gerbion-hunting-down-pathogens
Press release - 21/09/2012 Biomarkers for virus-induced cancer in the oropharynx Patients with oropharyngeal cancers have a more favorable prognosis if their tumors are caused by human papillomaviruses. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital have now identified biomarkers which enable them to differentiate cancer cases taking a favorable course from those with an unfavorable one. It may be possible to treat the two disease types…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/biomarkers-for-virus-induced-cancer-in-the-oropharynx
Article - 03/09/2012 Systems biology and hepatitis C research The international research project SysPatho aims to advance the understanding of HCV (hepatitis C virus) infections using systems biology approaches. The goal of the project coordinated by Universität Heidelberg is to develop new mathematical and computational methods to reconstruct HCV-infected hepatocytes, which can be used to identify new drug targets and help treat this dangerous disease.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/systems-biology-and-hepatitis-c-research
Press release - 20/08/2012 Viruses with integrated gene switch Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) with colleagues from the University of Konstanz have developed “RNA switches” which allow them to specifically turn on and off genes in viruses. This will help to enhance regulation of gene therapy and viral therapy of cancer. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/viruses-with-integrated-gene-switch
Press release - 17/08/2012 Max Planck scientist investigates the evolutionary model of Muller’s ratchet Especially in small asexual populations unfavourable mutations can accumulate. This process is known as Mullers ratchet in evolutionary biology. The ratchet predicts that the genome deteriorates irreversibly leaving populations on a one-way street to extinction. In collaboration with colleagues from the US Richard Neher from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology has shown mathematically how Mullers ratchet operates and he has…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/max-planck-scientist-investigates-the-evolutionary-model-of-muller-s-ratchet
Press release - 24/07/2012 Tailor-made viruses for enhanced cancer therapy Parvoviruses specifically kill cancer cells and are already in the clinical trial stage for treating malignant brain tumors. However, as they can also infect normal cells - without doing any harm to them - a large portion of viruses is lost during therapy. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now modified parvoviruses in such a way that they initially lose their ability to infect cells. In…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tailor-made-viruses-for-enhanced-cancer-therapy
Press release - 17/07/2012 Schmallenberg virus: Identifying infected cows and sheep faster The world's first commercial detection method for the Schmallenberg virus is now available for all laboratories. Kornwestheim-based AnDiaTec GmbH & Co. KG, specialists in detection methods for pathogens in the veterinary field, has just received approval for its product from the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut under the German Ordinance on Working with Animal Pathogens (Tierseuchengesetz). The virus, which has led, among other things, to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/schmallenberg-virus-identifying-infected-cows-and-sheep-faster
Article - 12/03/2012 Q-bios provides client-specific biotechnology services Q-bios GmbH, a spin-off from the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, is a biotechnology company that provides services related to the production and purification of diagnostic and therapeutic proteins as well as the development and amplification of suitable cell lines. The company offers its services, which are based on state-of-the-art technologies, to clients from the biotechnology, diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/q-bios-provides-client-specific-biotechnology-services