Working group

Molecular epidemiology

Short description

The working group deals with the genetic analysis of tuberculosis pathogens. It uses the latest techniques of DNA sequencing (next generation sequencing) to determine the distribution of individual TB strains based on gene sequences. The molecular epidemiological data are combined with traditional epidemiological data and can thus document the occurrence of TB strains and localise new, potentially dangerous, strains as early as possible. Another part of the work is focused on the genetic analysis of multiresistant tuberculosis strains. The group is developing new diagnostic tests for the rapid detection of resistance genes.

Research areas
Tuberculosis
Institutions
Research Center Borstel Leibniz Lung Center
Partner Sites
Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems
Contact person

Other participants

Articles on the working group

Stefan Niemann
© FZ Borstel/Pukall

Stefan Niemann receives the Gardner Middlebrook Award 2021

The molecular biologist Prof. Stefan Niemann from the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center was honored with the Gardner Middlebrook Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented online
Hans-Peter Grobbel
© FZ Borstel

Tailor-made therapy of multi-resistant tuberculosis

The successful treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis requires clarification in advance as to which antibiotics the pathogens are resistant to. Classic testing in the laboratory is very time
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
© FZB/S. Homolka

Undetected and difficult to treat: multidrug resistant tuberculosis strain

Scientists at the Research Center Borstel and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) identified a multidrug resistant Tuberculosis-strain in Southern Africa, that is not detected by modern
Laborarbeit
© FZ Borstel/Pukall

Tuberculosis: new type of test rapidly and clearly detects resistance

An international team managed by scientists at the Research Center Borstel and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have examined a new method for detecting resistant tuberculosis strains
DZIF-Preisträger 2019
© DZIF/ Gerhard Kopatz

2019 DZIF Prizes for Translational Infection Research awarded

Gülşah Gabriel and Stefan Niemann impressed the judges with their scientific work: The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is awarding them both a translational infection research prize worth
Stefan Niemann
© FZ Borstel

Tuberculosis treatment: Multidrug-resistance is a major challenge

In the journal The Lancet, DZIF researchers from the Research Center Borstel and their colleagues from England and South Africa make the case for optimising tuberculosis drug development. They
Tubercle bacilli
© cdc/James Archer

Harmonized genome wide typing of tubercle bacilli using a web-based Gene-by-Gene nomenclature system

An international research team led by the Research Center Borstel, developed a new method to label tubercle bacilli, the causative agents of tuberculosis with unique identifiers created from whole
The outbreak strain could be conclusively confirmed by genome analysis
© DZIF/scienceRELATIONS

Genome analysis confirms Europe-wide multidrug-resistant tuberculosis outbreak

The National Reference Center at the Research Center Borstel has confirmed a Europe-wide outbreak of a multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain in 29 refugees from the Horn of Africa. The
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
© cdc/James Archer

Improved prediction of tuberculosis bacteria resistance

An international tuberculosis consortium—including the Research Center Borstel—has succeeded in developing a standardised and internationally recognised method that is able to better predict in
Prof Stefan Niemann from FZB preparing genome sequencing
© DZIF/scienceRELATIONS

Likely source for global M. chimaera infection identified by whole genome sequencing

Scientists from a European Consortium reconstructed a global Mycobacterium chimaera outbreak by whole genome sequencing. The report has identified contaminated heater-cooler units as the likely source