Welcome to the DZIF -

the German Center for Infection Research

Research Areas

DZIF is doing research in nine areas:

Community-Acquired Infections at Mucosal Interfaces

Hepatitis

HIV

Infections of the Immunocompromised Host

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases

Emerging Infections

Novel Antibiotics

Tuberculosis

News

News and Press Releases:

Scientist working with an automated bioreactor system in a biotechnology laboratory.
© Celonic AG

PANTIPA project: Antibody against Pseudomonas aeruginosa reaches next development phase

First authors of the study Dr. Metodi Stankov (left) and Dr. Matthias Bruhn at TWINCORE.
© TWINCORE/Grabowski

Booster vaccination strengthens existing defenses

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is constantly mutating. As a result, vaccines become less effective and require regular adaptation. This was the case in 2025 with the JN.1 variant. An interdisciplinary team from
Graphic illustration depicting, in stylized form, a liver, numerous spherical viruses, and a human body in the background with an area of inflammation in the left lung.
© DZIF (image created with the help of generative AI)

New immune signaling pathway could inform future treatments for excessive inflammation

Researchers at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), including several scientists from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), have worked with colleagues at the University
The picture shows a scientist examining a Petri dish containing a bacterial culture. The person is in a laboratory; other laboratory equipment and sample containers can be seen in the background.
© DZIF/Martina Lienhop

Thinking beyond antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections

A research team from Switzerland and Germany has explored the combined use of phage and fecal microbiota transplantation to treat female patients with recurrent urinary tract infections that do not
Medical Laboratory Scientists Working with Blood Samples and Equipment in a Lab Setting
© AdobeStock/AS Studio

Tuberculosis: An immune signature in the blood indicates whether treatment is working

Researchers at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center (FZB) and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have identified a novel whole blood-based immune signature that could improve
All news

Participants wanted for scientific study

HelicoPTER: Join the study

As part of the scientific HelicoPTER study, you can get tested for Helicobacter pylori infection. The DZIF study aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections.

Find out more about the study and how to register here.
Doctor pointing at an anatomical model of the stomach to illustrate a Helicobacter pylori infection.
© Phushutter/stock.adobe.com

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Research in Focus

Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems

Clinical Tuberculosis Center (ClinTB)

The Clinical Tuberculosis Center provides the expertise and infrastructure for the optimization, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) as well as for translating research results into clinical practice. The main objectives of the Clinical Tuberculosis Center include coordinating clinical research activities involving the DZIF TB cohort. This cohort includes [...]

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Hannover - Braunschweig | Heidelberg | München | Tübingen

Transplant Cohort

Medical data and biological samples obtained from transplant patients are collected and managed across Germany with the help of the DZIF Transplant Cohort. The data and samples form the basis of scientific studies which investigate the connections between numerous factors influencing an organ’s susceptibility to infection and organ function. By [...]

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Hannover - Braunschweig

Preclinical development of Amidochelocardins

The challenge of antibiotic drug development today is the discovery and optimisation of novel bioactive compounds that do not show cross-resistances with clinically applied antibiotics, ideally due to a novel mode of action (MoA) which adresses unexploited microbial targets. In the case of chelocardin, this antibiotic substance was identified several [...]

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Tübingen

New strategies for specific eradication of Staphylococcus aureus

In this project, the scientists develop genetically engineered phage lysins and specific bacteriocins for the elimination of hospital germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, they clarify mechanisms of potential resistance mechanisms, and they analyse whether broad-spectrum or specifically acting agents have a more effective and lasting effect on colonization by [...]

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Our Partner Sites

Location

Hannover - Braunschweig

Research areas
Contact person
Silke Hartmann

Dr. Silke Hartmann

Hannover Medical School
Partner Site Manager Hannover-Braunschweig
Project Manager "Community-Acquired Infections at Mucosal Interfaces"
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Location

Bonn - Köln

Research areas
Contact person
Prof Achim Hörauf: Coordinator of the consortium "Neglected tropical diseases" at DZIF.

Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf

University Hospital Bonn
Deputy Partner Site Speaker Bonn-Köln
Deputy Coordinator "Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases"
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Ullrich Bethe

Dr. Ullrich Bethe

University Hospital Cologne
Project Manager "Clinical Trial Office (CTO)"
Deputy Partner Site Manager Köln
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More about this location
Location

Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems

Research areas
Contact person
Nicole Fischer

Prof. Dr. Nicole Fischer

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Deputy Partner Site Speaker Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems
Coordinator Bridging Topic "Diagnostics"
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More about this location
München Tübingen Heidelberg Gießen – Marburg – Langen Bonn – Köln Hannover – Braunschweig Hamburg – Lübeck Borstel – Riems