Graphic: Intramuscular immunisation induces sex-dependent CD64 expression on monocytic cells.

©Biology of Sex Differences

Publication

Why vaccines are often more effective in women

Women often show a stronger immune response to vaccines than men. A study by the BNITM provides new evidence of a possible mechanism: monocytes expressing the CD64 receptor are more common in women and are more active. These cells play a key role in transmitting vaccine signals to the immune system and may thus contribute to the stronger response.

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Auf dem Foto sind bunte Medikamentenpackungen auf dem Fußboden in mehreren Haufen gestapelt.

©BNITM

Infoveranstaltung

07.05.2026 10:30-12:00 Uhr

Antimikrobielle Resistenzen (AMR) zählen zu den größten globalen Gesundheitsrisiken. Forschende des BNITM berichten in der öffentlichen Infoveranstaltung, wie der One Health-Ansatz neue Wege im Umgang mit AMR eröffnet. Einblicke gibt es u. a. in One Health-Forschung zu resistenten Bakterien in Afrika sowie in den Antibiotika-Verkauf in Subsahara-Afrika und mögliche Gegenmaßnahmen.

Weitere Infos und zur Anmeldung

Auf dem Foto sind drei Frauen zu sehen, die um einen Tisch herum sitzen und miteinander reden.

©BNITM | Pia Rausche

Publication

What is “normal”? Study from Madagascar expands understanding of vaginal health

Researchers at BNITM have, for the first time, comprehensively analysed the vaginal microbiota of women of reproductive age in Madagascar, closing an important data gap. The study also examines associations with common infections such as HPV and Schistosoma haematobium. The findings were published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

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The foto shows 5 women standing around a glove box. One of them is training to handle materials in the glove box.

©iACE Global Health

Research funding

BNITM raises more than €9 million in third-party funding for global health research

Six projects, more than €9 million in funding: In the Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP) of the Federal Ministry of Health, BNITM researchers are working together with partner institutions worldwide on the monitoring of dangerous pathogens, strategies against antibiotic and malaria resistance, and training programmes for the management of disease outbreaks. The approval is an important signal in times of funding cuts for global health.

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Auf dem Foto sind vier Personen von hinten zu sehen, wie sie ein feststeckendes Motorrad durch Schlamm schieben.

©BNITM | Sung Joon Park

Publication

A journey between two Ebola outbreaks

Can one person's journey become the link between two Ebola outbreaks? Researchers at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), together with partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, investigated whether the mobility of a previously unregistered Ebola survivor could explain a possible link between the outbreak in Likati (2017) and the major outbreak in Ituri/North Kivu (2018–2020).

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