Latest / 12. Jan. 2021
New publication on how eosinophils mediate protection against filarial nematodes
News
A Trap for Nematodes
Filariae, slender but sometimes up to 70 centimeters long nematodes, can set up residence in their host quite tenaciously and cause serious infectious diseases in the tropics. The tiny larvae of the worms are usually transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes, which pick up the larvae from the blood or subcutaneous tissue when they bite and deposit them in the vessels or tissues of their next victim. Researchers led by the University of Bonn have now investigated a mechanism by which the immune system attacks the filariae. Certain immune cells, the eosinophil granulocytes, release DNA that forms a kind of web around the larvae and traps them. The researchers also identified which protein "turns on" the mechanism, known as the Dectin-1 receptor. The study has been published in the journal Cell Reports DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108621 .
WHO Launches the 2021-2030 Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases
On the 28th of January 2021, the World Health Organization launched the new 2021-2030 road map for neglected tropical diseases. The road map sets out global targets for 2030 and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate neglected diseases. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP and Speaker DNTDs sent a congratulatory video message to the WHO on the launch of the Roadmap, expressing the network’s commitment and support in the fight against NTDs.
The recorded launch is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_L8D0M_JqY&feature=youtu.be
World NTD Day #EndTheNeglect #BeatNTDs
On the 30th of January the world came together to celebrate the World NTDs Day. This was the 2nd time the day was celebrated since its launch in Jan 30 2020. To raise NTD awareness around the world, 57 monuments around the world were lit up orange and purple, as part of "Light Up the World" campaign for NTDs. The monuments included, among others, the Giza pyramids in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil,the Great wall of China in China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. In Germany, the Bayer building and the Sony center in Berlin, the Nibelungen bridge in Worms and Kloster Lorsch in Lorsch also light up for NTDs. Watch the video clip to see the monuments that were lit up. Also as part of raising awareness, IMMIP professors, Prof. Marc Hübner and Prof Achim Hoerauf gave interviews to mark the date.
Deutsche Welle: Vernachlässigte Tropenkrankheiten - es trifft immer die Armen ( neglected tropical diseaseses - the poor are always affected with Prof. Marc Hübner and Prof. Achim Hörauf).
Zoonosen.net: World NTD Day – 5 Fragen an den Experten (5 questions for the Expert with Prof. Achim Hoerauf)
Coronavirus: Are parasitic worms responsible for low fatality rates in Africa? | COVID-19 Special
One of the dominant features of parasitic worms is ensuring their survival in the host body by supressing the immune responses... Watch this Deutsche Welle COVID-19 special (DW) where Prof. Achim Hörauf addresses the question as to whether worms have a role in the low fatality rates in Africa.
World NTD Day - 5 Questions for the Expert
The National Research Platform for Zoonoses took the opportunity of the World NTD day to inteview to Prof. Achim Hoerauf on NTDs. Prof. Achim Hoerauf is the Speaker of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDS) and Director of IMMIP, he has been conducting research on neglected tropical diseases for years, especially on filariasis (diseases caused by parasitic filarial worms). They asked him 5 questions about NTDs.Full interview here (in German)...
A fascination for roundworms
Worms and other parasites cause numerous and widespread tropical diseases which are largely overlooked. At the DZIF, research teams are focused on fighting these diseases. Since August 2020, parasitologist Professor Marc Hübner has been developing this research further as a DZIF Professor for Translational Microbiology at the Bonn-Cologne partner site.
Neglected Tropical Diseases and their Importance In Europe - Chagas Disease is a Tropical Disease that Receives Litttle Attention
To kick off the Action Week Against NTDs, the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) under the patronage of Dr. Georg Kippels MdB, organized and hosted a Webtalk on Chagas disease. The Webtalk had presentations from Dr. Thomas Jacobs, Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin Hamburg (BNITM),... Continue reading
29th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Parasitology
The Annual meeting of the German Society for Parasitology will be held on the 15. - 17. march 2021.
This year the meeting will be digital.
Early Bird Deadline: 02.02.2021
Information on registration can be found here: https://www.parasitology-meeting.de/
