Two ERC Consolidator Grants for ImmunoSensation members
—Another big success for the University of Bonn in securing grants from the European Research Council (ERC), with three researchers receiving an ERC Consolidator Grant. Two of those grants go to ImmunoSensation2 researchers: Professor Jan Hasenauer of the LIMES Institute and Professor Florian I. Schmidt of the Institute for Innate Immunity.
Vitamin B2 Derivatives Can Alleviate Chronic Kidney Inflammation
—Researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University Hospital Bonn have demonstrated that certain derivatives of vitamin B2 can alleviate chronic kidney inflammation in mice. Their findings have been published in the journal “Nature Communications.”
—With a total of 11 researchers, the University of Bonn is represented this year in the international ranking "Highly Cited Researchers". ImmunoSensation is represented with 5 "Highly Cited Researchers" in Immunology and Cross-Field.
Millions in funding for development of influenza drugs
—How can the propagation of influenza viruses be stopped? For a new approach in the therapy of influenza infections, Prof. Hiroki Kato from the Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation² of the University of Bonn receives an Open Philanthropy grant of 2.2 million US dollars. Together with his team, he found a compound that inhibits the body's own methyltransferase MTr1 and thus prevents the replication of influenza viruses.
—Every year some 75,000 people die from bacterial blood poisoning, or sepsis, in Germany alone. Survivors of sepsis often struggle with secondary and concomitant conditions due to the resulting impairment of the immune system, the so called “Immunesuppression”. The International Center for Clinical Research (ICRC) at St. Anne's University Hospital (FNUSA) Brno (Czech Republic) has founded the research consortium “BEATSep”. HORIZON EUROPA is funding it with around 6,9 million euros over the next five years.
Unraveling the role of NLRC5 in melanoma progression
—Immunotherapies offer new perspectives in the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, tumor immune-escape mechanisms limit their effectiveness on a long turn. The intracellular receptor NLRC5 impacts the regulation of tumor recognition by the immune system in melanoma and other entities and is hence at the core of a new research project by ImmunoSensation² member Dr. Nicole Glodde from the Institute of Experimental Oncology at the University Hospital Bonn. The project is funded by the German Hiege Foundation, providing 30.000 € over the period of one year.
Spatial Transcriptomics-correlated Electron Microscopy
—In response to injury, cells of the surrounding tissues alter their structures and their gene expression activities. Although tightly intertwined, these two parameters have only been observed separately, due to technical limitations. ImmunoSensation² member Prof. Dr. Özgün Gökce and colleagues now found a way to monitor transcriptional and ultrastructural responses to injury at once, using Spatial Transcriptomics-correlated Electron Microscopy. The results have recently been published in Nature Communications.
—Cooperation between the University of Bonn, the USA and the Netherlands cracks the mode of action of clovibactin. More and more bacterial pathogens are developing resistance. There is an increasing risk that common drugs will no longer be effective against infectious diseases. That is why scientists around the world are searching for new effective substances.
