Fluorescent Malaria parasite: Grey picture with grey cells and yellow glowing parasite.

©BNITM

Publication

Malaria parasite: a protein keeps it alive – but not in the way we thought

For decades, researchers believed that the ‘haem detoxification protein’ helped the malaria parasite to neutralise the toxic waste product haem. However, researchers at BNITM have shown that it is essential for the parasite’s respiration. The study corrects a long-held assumption and provides new insights into the biology of the pathogen.

Auf dem Foto sind 12 Personen zu sehen, die vornehm gekleidet sind, lächeln und auf einem roten Teppich stehen.

©EAC

Outbreak Response

Standing together against viruses

The new East African Community (EAC) Virology Centre of Excellence at the Uganda Virus Research Institute has officially opened, a milestone for the region. BNITM provided planning support and continues to offer advisory expertise.

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©BNITM | Dino Schachten

Research data management

Connecting research data, enabling new discoveries

BNITM is now a member of the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). As part of this nationwide network, the Institute contributes its expertise in infectious disease and global health research and helps make research data secure, findable and reusable in the long term. This will benefit new research questions, data-driven methods and AI applications alike.

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Foto des erfahrenen ghanaischen Forschers Prof. Alexander Debrah mit verschränkten Armen.

©KCCR

Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)

New Director of KCCR

From August, Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah will head the KCCR in Ghana, a joint initiative of the BNITM, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Ghanaian Ministry of Health. Find out about his vision for practical healthcare solutions and how he intends to forge even closer links between research, talent development and global partnerships.

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Photo of Culex in the lab during a blood meal with Q-Tip

©BNITM | Dino Schachten

Sleepless under the city lights

Research project on mosquito behaviour

Streetlights, warm nights, open windows: artificial light can keep mosquitoes active for longer. Evidence suggests they stay out later, bite over a longer span of hours and enter winter dormancy later. That could raise the risk of pathogens such as West Nile virus circulating more easily. In the LUMEN consortium project, an interdisciplinary team led by the BNITM is examining how risks can be predicted and reduced.

The photo shows a green rice field in Madagascar against a blue sky. A farmer is harvesting barefoot in fresh water.

©Jule Hameister

Award

When parasites slow down viruses

Barefoot in the rice fields, with water up to the ankles: In Madagascar, many people come into contact with the pathogens that cause schistosomiasis. The parasites are transmitted by freshwater snails. But why is there hardly any Dengue? Jana Hey investigated this in her dissertation and discovered surprising correlations. For her work, she received this year’s doctoral award from the Association of Friends and Supporters of BNITM.