The photo shows a female Mastomys natalensis suckling.

©Adobe Stock| PIXATERRA

Publication

Lassafever more widespread than known

Lassa viruses can cause severe haemorrhagic fever, often with fatal consequences. However, a study shows that in rural Guinea, the population apparently lives not only with the virus's carrier, the multimammate mouse, but also with the virus itself. Over 80 per cent of the population carry antibodies, many of them since childhood. Hardly anyone gets sick. This finding raises questions about immunity, risk and vaccination strategies.

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Eine Forscherin in einem weißen Schutzanzug schaut durch ein Mikroskop, unter dem sie eine Mücke in einer Petrischale mit Pinzetten untersucht. Ihre Sicherheitshandschuhe sind orange und lila.

©BNITM

Veranstaltung

Jubiläumsreihe: Infoveranstaltung zu Stechmücken-Forschung

Stechmücken sind mehr als nur Störenfriede – sie gehören zu den tödlichsten Lebewesen der Erde. Kommen Sie zu unserer nächsten öffentlichen Veranstaltung zum Thema Stechmücken-Forschung am Donnerstag, 04.09.2025, von 18 bis 20 Uhr in unserem Hörsaal am BNITM. Drei Forschende berichten von der Geschichte, der aktuellen Forschung, der Arbeit im BSL-3-Insektarium und dem Einsatz von KI in der Stechmückenbestimmung. Der Eintritt ist frei.

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The image shows an Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in a laboratory.

©BNITM

Publication

Oropouche virus: Can mosquitoes be carriers?

Until now, it was unclear whether mosquitoes could transmit and spread Oropouche viruses. A new study by the BNITM now shows that they can! Specifically, tiger mosquitoes, which are spreading increasingly in Europe due to climate change. They appear to have what is known as vector competence for this tropical pathogen. This has implications for risk assessment.

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©The Lancet One Health Commission

Rethinking Health

The Lancet One Health Commission Report

The world is facing a connected health crisis: zoonoses, antibiotic resistance, climate change and environmental destruction are threatening lives and stability worldwide. The first report by The Lancet One Health Commission calls for a radical change: only an integrated One Health approach that considers humans, animals and the environment together can prevent pandemics, ensure global justice and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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©Maria Rosenthal

Funding

Success in the Leibniz Programme for Female Professors

BNITM researcher Dr Maria Rosenthal has been awarded a grant under the Leibniz Programme for Women Professors to set up her own research group. Her goal is to identify new approaches for antiviral therapies against dangerous bunyaviruses – pathogens for which there are currently no vaccines or drugs. The group is moving to the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) on the Hamburg-Bahrenfeld research campus.

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©ECTMIH2025

Specialist event

Science Congress

In October 2025, the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) will celebrate its 125th anniversary. And how do researchers celebrate? With a scientific conference! After thirty years, the ‘European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health’ (ECTMIH) is returning to Hamburg. The organisers are expecting more than 1,000 participants at the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH). Take part and send in your session proposals!

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