German Center for Infection Research

A multiregional serosurvey of RNA virus-reactive antibodies in bats and rodents reveals the enzootic presence of flavi- and paramyxoviruses in African Pteropodidae

Bats and rodents have been identified as reservoir hosts of diverse RNA viruses that pose potential risks to humans. However, overall virus prevalence in wildlife and underlying factors determining the zoonotic potential of reservoir-borne viruses remain poorly characterized. Vir...

Design, Synthesis, and Preliminary Investigation on the Mode of Action for a Series of Novel Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics

Abstract Over the years, many antibiotics have been developed, but most have become less effective due to antimicrobial resistance, especially those targeting enzymatic pathways. This growing resistance poses a serious global health threat. It is now recognized that physically di...

The human gut microbiome primes fever after vaccination

Fever is a common adverse reaction to vaccination, contributing to vaccine hesitancy and reduced uptake. To understand variation in fever risk, we longitudinally profiled fecal microbiota, oral temperature, and serological markers in 171 healthy adults receiving Severe acute resp...

Automated Production of Gene-Edited CAR-T Cells for People Living with HIV

Adoptive transfer of gene-modified autologous T cells, for example, expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), is a promising therapy option for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Given their increased risk to develop certain cancer types, namely lymphoma, and t...

Transient receptor potential channel activation targets multiple stages of the schistosome parasite

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with parasitic blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma , affects more than 250 million people worldwide. Currently, patients rely on a single medicine, praziquantel (PZQ), discovered half a century ago. To combat dru...

Novel peritoneal catheters with silver particles lower rates of peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites

Background Treatment options for refractory ascites (RA) in cirrhosis are scarce. When TIPS insertion is contraindicated, tunneled peritoneal catheters (cPeCa) offer an alternative treatment. However, cPeCa are associated with high incidences of infection-related complications. N...

Rapid and Efficient Affinity Isolation of Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Encapsulating Functional Proteins via Internal Twin‐Strep Tetraspanin Tagging

ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of intercellular communication and promising protein‐delivery vehicles, but isolation of sufficiently pure, intact, engineered EVs remains challenging due to abundant cellular and serum‐derived contaminants. Here, structure‐guid...

Gut resilience and clinical homeostasis following administration of neomycin and albendazole in soil-transmitted helminth-infected adults living in Lambaréné, Gabon

Abstract Purpose Gut resilience and systemic homeostasis are interrelated dynamic functions. A gut that fails to regulate intestinal barrier integrity, metabolite production, and immune regulation will lead to systemic pathogenic invasion and susceptibility to infections. Gut res...

Dynamic tRNA modification programs align codon usage with growth-phase-specific gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Post-transcriptional transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications dynamically regulate translational capacity, yet whether the tRNA epitranscriptome is temporally coordinated with gene expression programs during bacterial growth remains unknown. Here, we combine time-resolved nanopore tRNA...

Clinical Global Impression-Stimulation Outcome Monitoring Tool (CGI-STIM): development and preliminary evaluation of a pragmatic clinical rating tool for electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract Objectives Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective for severe and treatment-resistant mental disorders, but concerns about cognitive side effects and enduring stigma continue to hinder its broader acceptance. Although treatment response and cognitive tolerabi...

Prophylactic vs Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Importance Coagulopathy in the context of COVID-19 is a major threat due to deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolisms. Objective To assess whether therapeutic anticoagulation on top of standard of care (SOC) compared with prophylactic anticoagulation as part of SOC can improve...

Results of the validated German Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) from a large German cohort of healthy adults and different disease groups compared to historical reference values

Abstract Background Reference values of the validated German Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) were published in 2005 for healthy adults and individuals with different clinical conditions. We compared historical values with PSQ from the large German cohort participating in “Ri...

A multi-site loiasis dataset of whole blood videos

Loiasis is a blood-borne filarial infection under consideration for inclusion in the WHO’s priority list of Neglected Tropical Diseases. In addition to its direct impact on human health, loiasis frequently occurs as a co-infection with other filarial diseases, including onchocerc...

A systematic review of ultrasound to predict severe disease in patients with dengue and other viral infections associated with hemorrhagic fevers

Background Viral infections associated with hemorrhagic fevers (VaHFs) cause millions of cases each year across a broad geography with severity ranging from asymptomatic cases to clinical disease with a high case fatality rate. Commonalities in pathophysiology across VaHFs includ...

Migration and tuberculosis transmission in Hamburg, Germany: insights from 25 years of molecular epidemiology

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology in low-incidence settings is increasingly influenced by the importation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Mtbc) strains from high-incidence regions. Globally, more virulent “generalist” lineages such as Lineage 2 (L2) and Li...

Nanopore sequencing in infectious disease diagnostics and surveillance

ABSTRACT The global burden of infectious disease is on the rise, driven by antibiotic resistance, emerging pathogens, and gaps in accessible, decentralized diagnostics. To address these demands, there is a need for the development of diagnostic platforms for detection, surveillan...

SARS-CoV-2 and RSV external quality assessment on molecular detection and variant typing in European expert laboratories in 2025

ABSTRACT We herein report on the fourth SARS-CoV-2 wet-lab external quality assessment (EQA) and the second organized by the AURORAE consortium to assess the diagnostic capabilities of European expert public health laboratories. Diagnostic capabilities were investigated regarding...

Cyclosporin A triggers a RIG-I-mediated interferon response through multiple cellular processes

Abstract The development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents is essential for preparedness against emerging viruses with pandemic potential. Cyclosporin A (CsA), a clinically approved immunosuppressant, has been shown to exert antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses. Re...

Annual Research Review: Sex differences in conduct disorder – revisiting existing evidence and exploring future directions

Conduct disorder (CD) is a common psychiatric disorder in youth, characterized by severe and recurrent aggressive and antisocial behaviors and associated with substantial healthcare and societal costs. Rates of CD increase during adolescence in both sexes, with the male‐to‐female...

Molecular epidemiology and management of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from patients in Ukraine, 2022–2024

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized worldwide as significant causes of chronic pulmonary disease, particularly among individuals with underlying structural lung disorders or immunosuppression. However, data on the epidemiology and clinical management of...