Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are among the most common neglected diseases affecting humans and animals alike. In parallel, STH infections have a negative impact on the environment through long-term soil contamination, limited access to healthcare, socio-economic disadvantages, and anthelmintic resistance.

These extremely harmful consequences of STH infections are in stark contrast to the low scientific and social awareness of these infections and the lack of training for future researchers in this field in Germany.

RTG 3096 aims to close this training gap by educating the next generation of helminthologists in a One Health approach that addresses infections in humans, animals, and the environment.

Research in the three One Health areas focuses on Ascaris infections in humans (Ascaris lumbricoides), pigs (Ascaris suum), and chicken (Ascaridia galli).

   

Within the three One Health areas our RTG has defined research gaps which we are aiming to work on. These are:

• Clinical consequences of STH infections for infected humans & animals. Here, research projects will focus on the impact on coinfections, on anti-vaccine responses and the changes of resistance to infection with age.
• Identification of infection mechanisms of STH in humans and animals to identify new intervention targets. In the research area we will work on the cellular metabolism of the parasites, microbial interplay & drug resistance.
• Targeting environmental issues of STH in humans and animals to enable better public health interventions. Here, research projects will focus on transmission risks, public health barriers and health economics.

   

The scientific projects in the three One Health areas will be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner through joint studies in Germany and Kenya:

• a birth cohort study, a public health study, and a health economics study in Kenya in close collaboration with partners from leading research and training institutions in Kenya,
• experimental infections and studies in pig and chicken farms in Germany, and
• environmental effects in Germany and Kenya.

   

The scientific topics and joint studies are central to the training concept of RTG 3096.

The aim is to train scientists in the latest technologies and specific skills, with extensive knowledge of helminthology and expertise in interdisciplinary approaches.

This is achieved by integrating the three One Health areas into the scientific training program, combined with tailor-made courses and workshops. The scientific content-based training is complemented by comprehensive training in social and transferable skills. The overall aim of RTG 3096 is to equip the next generation of One Health helminthologists with the skills to conduct wide-ranging, forward-looking scientific studies on helminths in humans, animals and the affected anthropogenic environment.

  

Detailed information about the different projects of RTG 3096 you can find here:

P1 - Impact of A. galli on vaccination and coinfection in chicken (Prof. Isabelle Ruhnke)

P2 - Vaccine efficacy and barrier integrity of pigs infected by A. suum (Prof. Eva-Maria Saliu)

P3 - Metabolic cross-talk between parasites & host (Prof. Raluca Niesner)

P4 - Mechanisms of ascarids-host gut microbiome interactions (Prof. Susanne Hartmann)

P5 - Age-dependent IFN-γ competence in Ascaris infection (Dr. Sebastian Rausch)

P6 - Ascarids benzimidazoles resistance mechanisms (Prof. Georg von Himmelstjerna)

P7 - Biotic and abiotic drivers of STH infections in wildlife, livestock, humans (Prof. Stephanie Kramer-Schadt)

P8 - Health systems’ and community-based interventions (Prof. Johanna Hanefeld)

P9 - Economics of STH infection control interventions (Dr. Francisco Pozo-Martin)