The photo shows the almost full lecture hall at the BNITM. A speaker stands at the lectern in te, and a slide from the presentation can be seen in the background.

©BNITM | Dino Schachten

Lectures for laypeople

A year full of insights

Find out more about our public information events in 2025: Topics ranged from neglected tropical diseases and malaria to mosquito research and research on haemorrhagic fever viruses such as Ebola and Marburg. The presentations are now available on our YouTube channel.

©BNITM

Funding

Greater safety through knowledge transfer

BNITM received approximately €1.2 million in funding from the Federal Foreign Office for international biosafety projects in Moldova, Ukraine and the Western Balkans. In close collaboration with local partners, the institute improved diagnostic methods, conducted seroprevalence studies and strengthened protection against the misuse of dangerous pathogens.

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Graphic: Model of balancing selection between the malaria parasite and the host, driving selection for autoimmune traits.

©Hopp

Research funding

ERC grant for malaria and autoimmune research

Dr Christine Hopp, junior research group leader at BNITM, receives an ERC Consolidator Grant for her AUTOIMMPRINT project. Her hypothesis: mild autoimmunity appears to have a natural protective function against malaria. The aim is to gain a more detailed understanding of this relationship at the molecular and cellular level – for more effective vaccines and new therapies. The research is being conducted at BNITM and in Mali and Ghana.

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Graphic on the Stages of the Map-Xing study

©Samuel Pazicky et al., published in Nature Microbiology

Publication

Fundamental research into malaria

The proteome-wide profiling method MAP-X shows in unprecedented detail how proteins of the malaria parasite interact at different stages of development. The technology combines thermal proteome profiling with machine learning and reveals previously unknown complexes. This creates new insights into key biological processes and provides starting points for future therapies – even beyond malaria.

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©BNITM

Research project

Detecting malaria faster

Ah instead of ouch: A saliva test instead of the usual blood sample could simplify malaria diagnosis. The international collaboration project PROMISE is exploring whether a needle-free rapid test can reliably detect all malaria species. First studies are underway in Gabon. The goal is a simple, affordable test for use in high-burden regions and in settings where blood collection is difficult or not accepted.

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Elektronenmikroskopisches Bild von West-Nil-Viren

©BNITM

Publication

How blood donations help detect West Nile virus early

A research team at BNITM has developed a new method that can detect West Nile virus in blood donations even when only tiny traces are present, providing a highly effective early warning system. The data also show that the virus entered Germany several times and has become established in certain regions. The new technique strengthens public health surveillance and helps identify future outbreaks at an early stage.