Fight against viruses and parasites: Heidelberg researcher in conversation
Fight against viruses and parasites: Heidelberg researcher in conversation
Heidelberg, Deutschland - On March 5, 2025, an revealing conversation between journalist Wolfgang Heim and two leading scientists from the University of Heidelberg, Dr. Frauke Mücksch and Dr. Markus Ganter, instead. In this event, which is part of the "survival strategies" series, the spread and defense against viruses and parasites was discussed in detail. Both researchers are members of the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1129 "Integrative analysis of the replication and spread of pathogenic pathogens", which is funded by the German Research Foundation. The SFB aims to examine basic questions about the life sciences and to better understand the interactions between the pathogen and landlord.
dr. Mücksch, who leads a research group to Hi virus, and Dr. Ganter, who examines the multiplication of the Malaria pathogen Plasmodium, emphasized the importance of this research for the development of new therapeutic approaches. Dr. Mücksch pointed out that there are often no suitable treatments or vaccinations available. The aim of your work is to transfer basic research into practical applications in order to combat infections more effectively. The SFB 1129 was extended for another four years in May 2022, so that it has now reached the maximum funding period of twelve years.
mechanisms of distribution
The scientists explained how viruses enter human cells, a process that begins with the binding to specific receptors. These binding interactions vary and can include several steps. Many viruses initially bind to receptors with low affinity before reaching their specific, highly affected receptor, which is essential for infection. For example, HIV uses the CD4 receptor as a primary receptor and needs additional co-receptors to penetrate the host cell. Such mechanisms are crucial for the assessment of the course of the disease and the pathogenicity of viruses.
In conversation, the science of microbiology is also emphasized, which deals with the microbes and their influence on the human body. This discipline considers pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that can trigger a variety of infectious diseases. Research within the SFB 1129 is also about the reactions of the immune system to these pathogens, whereby a deeper understanding of the immune responses is important for both basic research and therapeutic developments .research in medicine
The wide range of topics dealt with as part of SFB 1129 ranges from specific virus host interactions to examination of diseases such as malaria and AIDS. The researchers rely on the analysis of interactions between the pathogens and the human immune system to develop new approaches to prevention and treatment. Like Dr. Ganter explains, it is essential to look at the functioning of individual molecules and viruses at different levels in order to expand the understanding of disease mechanisms. The focus is on pathogens that are widespread worldwide and cause a high burden of disease.
Overall, the SFB 1129 represents an important initiative within biological and medical research by pursuing the goal of developing new strategies to combat infections and at the same time sensitizing the scientific community to the challenges in the field of infectious diseases. The results of this research could lead to decisive progress in the therapy of infectious diseases . already published findings show the complex interactions between different pathogens and the human organism, which will be of great relevance for future therapy concepts.
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| Ort | Heidelberg, Deutschland |
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