Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Studying "little killers" - stopping infections

The interactions between bacterial pathogens and their hosts, on the one hand, and strategies on the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of infectious diseases, on the other, are the topics around which the work done by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig revolves.

Infectious diseases are as dangerous for humans today as they have ever been. One in three people die of an infection. Even in industrialised nations, epidemics are not yet a thing of the past. AIDS and SARS are typical examples. The return of pathogens which we though we had already overcome, new forms of diseases and ever-growing resistance to antibiotics are turning infections into a major health risk.

There is neither an efficacious vaccine nor an effective treatment for many infectious diseases. And as age expectancy rises, so too does the risk of falling ill to life-threatening infections. Because as we grow older, the efficiency of the immune system drops dramatically. Moreover, the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer also weakens the human immune system. In fact, research has additionally shown that a correlation exists between infections and diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and certain forms of diabetes. It is also known that bacteria, viruses or parasites can trigger cancer and heart diseases.

Successfully combating infections

As the Helmholtz Centre responsible for infection research, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and its 600 or so staff study the following questions:

• What are the fundamental mechanisms of an infection and of the immune system's reactions?
• What turns certain bacteria into pathogens?
• Why are some people particularly sensitive or particularly resistant to infections?
• How can we influence infection processes and so prevent or cure diseases?

Answers to these questions will play a part in successfully combating the "little killers" - bacteria and viruses - with new drugs and vaccines.