Graphic shows the interaction of the nucleoprotein and Z protein molecules of the Lassa virus©Sänger et al. (2023) | J Am Chem Soc.
Research Highlight

New role for viral RNA discovered in Lassa virus

The viral genome must be protected from degradation in the host cell: Researchers at the BNITM, in collaboration with several partners, have discovered that viral RNA triggers an important step in this process. They also identified the viral nucleoprotein as a potential target for future antiviral drugs.

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Greenish graphic that visualises the topic of "AI in biology and medicine". It shows a brown microscope on the right, three filled test tubes on the left and, on the very left and in the background, DNA strands and binary codes with ones and zeros.©BNITM AI-generated with Adobe Firefly
Press release

BNITM goes digital

Digitisation push at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine: from 2025, the institute will be setting up the overarching centre "Computational Sciences for Pathogen Research and One Health". The virtual centre will be linked to all five research sections of the institute. The Joint Science Conference of the federal and state governments had previously given the green light for funding from the Leibniz Association.

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The immunohistological staining shows blue stained liver cells of the mouse, liver abscess stained brown, liver abscess caused by amoebae of the genus Entamoeba histolytica.©BNITM
Publication

A matter of motility

Why does an infection with parasitic amoebae lead to severe disease course in some cases? A research group at the BNITM is investigating this for the genus "Entamoeba histolytica" and has already found two molecules of the parasite that are involved in the pathogenic effect. They have now found clues as to the mechanism behind this and have published their findings in the scientific journal "PLOS Pathogen".

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The image shows a laboratory in a red tent with staff in lab coats working on benches and with glove boxes.©EMLab, BNITM
News

European Mobile Lab becomes part of EU Civil Protection

To be able to respond quickly and efficiently to an outbreak of dangerous infectious agents is an important task of international disaster response. The European Mobile Lab, managed by BNITM, has been making a significant contribution to this for many years. Now, the EMLab has undergone and successfully passed the demanding certification process of the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP).

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The photo shows a physician in a personal protection suit with crossed arms standing in an isolation ward.©BNITM | Till Omansen
News

Lassa fever season in Nigeria

Two teams of experts from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) are supporting the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in Edo State in the diagnosis and control of the Lassa fever outbreak there. Together, the long-standing partners are putting new laboratory capacities and important clinical study platforms into operation. Among other things, they want to investigate the connection with bacterial sepsis.

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News

[Translate to English:] Grafik der ringförmigen Trimerstruktur des Nukleoproteins, dargestellt im Komplex mit dem Z-Protein. Daneben eine Grafik eines nativen Massenspektrums mit den Molekülen Z-Protein, NP-Trimer und NP-Trimer im Komplex mit dem Z-Protein
Research Highlights

Viral RNA triggers critical steps in Lassa virus life cycle

Understanding viral processes in human host cells is key to developing new antiviral drugs against the Lassa virus. Scientists from several…

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Greenish graphic that visualises the topic of "AI in biology and medicine". It shows a microscope, a filled test tube and, in the background, DNA strands and binary codes with ones and zeros.
Press releases

Further growth spurt at BNITM

The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) is comprehensively putting its research on a digital footing: From 2025, it will…

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Events

Professional Events
19.03.2024 - 28.02.2025

Global-Partnership-Initiated-Biosecurity-Academia for Controlling Health Threats (GIBACHT)

GIBACHT is an educational programme established and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The training programme focuses on…

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Public Events
20.03.2024

Jugendzukunftstag 2024🏳️‍🌈

Rein in den Kittel, Mund-Nasen-Schutz auf, Handschuhe an und ab ins Labor! Das Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin (BNITM)…

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Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74
D-20359 Hamburg

Tel.: +49 40 285380-0
(Switchboard of the Institute)

E-Mail: bni@bnitm.de

Tel.: +49 40 285380-219
(for patients)

E-Mail: bni-ambulanz@uke.de

 

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