Infections – Prevention, diagnostics, drug development

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Covid-19 pandemic, triggered by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, as an "emergency for public health on an international scale". Apart from the corona crisis, infections pose a permanent threat for humankind. According to the WHO, diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites are still among the most frequent causes of death in non-industrialized countries. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, for example, kill almost five million people worldwide every year.

Infectious diseases are again on the rise also in industrialized countries. In particular, the widespread use of antibiotics, once a silver bullet against bacterial pathogens, has led to many pathogens today being resistant to antibiotics. According to a study by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 670,000 people in the EU are infected by antibiotic-resistant pathogens every year – around 33,000 people die from them every year [1]. In addition, hardly any new antibiotics are approved, which is why experts have long been talking about the post-antibiotic era.

Despite all medical advances, the diagnosis and therapy of sepsis, which is usually treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, is a particular challenge. It is estimated that in Germany alone about 150,000 people suffer from sepsis every year, and between 30 and 50 percent of patients die from the consequences of "blood poisoning".

_{[1] https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/Antibiotikaresistenz/Uebersichtsbeitraege/AMR_Europa.html, https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/33000-people-die-every-year-due-infections-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(18)30605-4/fulltext, downloaded on April 8, 2020}

Working at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, Fraunhofer experts are supporting the efforts of industry and society to cope with the immediate effects and the consequences to come.

Prevention – Sterilization, disinfection, vaccine development

To prevent infectious diseases and the spread of pathogens, hygiene precautions and vaccinations are essential measures.

For this purpose, the IGB is developing processes for sterilization and disinfection using UV and plasma technologies as well as an electrochemical cell for decentralized production of H₂O₂ for disinfection.

A physical inactivation process was established for vaccine development. In addition, a virus engineering platform is available to generate recombinant viral vectors that effectively stimulate the immune system and have intrinsic adjuvant properties. Virus-like particles that mimic viruses serve as potent vaccines as well as versatile biocontainer for drug delivery.

Strategies against biofilms are based on antimicrobial surfaces and the use of bacteriophages.

Diagnosis – Based on nucleic acids and immune receptors

For the diagnosis of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, new sequencing technologies offer an open platform able to identify all pathogens with high specificity. For sepsis pathogens, the diagnosis was validated in a clinical study using next-generation sequencing.

A nucleic acid-based lateral flow assay (NALFA) has been developed for the detection of pathogens using the Herpes simplex virus 1 as an example and can be performed without any laboratory infrastructure.

We also produce diagnostic DNA microarrays for pathogen detection on behalf of customers.

In addition, pathogens and their components can be detected and identified using various TLR immunoreceptors via cell-based assays. A rapid test based on the principle of a lateral flow immunoassay (Immustick) is currently being developed with partners.

Drug development – Bacteriophages and test systems

As an alternative to the treatment of infectious diseases with antibiotics, the IGB is working on the engineering and production of bacteriophages.

To search for (new) active substances, the IGB offers cell-based screening systems and 3D immunocompetent skin models as test systems for active substances and the investigation of infection mechanisms.

The "reporter skin" is a patented system for the rapid optical detection of immune reactions.

For the preclinical safety testing of substances and materials we maintain a certified GLP test facility of test category 9: "Cell-based test systems for determining biological parameters".