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Procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker for sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Procalcitonin is the best prognostic marker available at acute systemic inflammatory diseases, but it cannot be the only basis for making decisions

Published recently in "Lancet Infectious Diseases"

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70323-7

Six science institutions from Northern Germany, which are internationally well-known in the microbial genome research, put their competences together in a joint research centre. The following institutions are participating: the Universities of Göttingen and Greifswald, the Technical University of Braunschweig, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Medical School Hannover, the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ).

http://www.nzmg.de/

Setting the stage for personalised medicine, researchers decode major immune cell's protein content

Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have analysed for the first time all the proteins inside natural killer (NK) cells of healthy individuals. The newly discovered “protein repertoire” shows that these immune cells cannot only defend us against acute viral infections but they can also store information about earlier infections. The researchers have identified new proteins that help to determine NK cell condition. These findings may improve the basis for personalized therapies.

Researchers show: Sophisticated transport system helps immune cells quickly detect infections

"Danger!" signals TLR9, the molecular sensor, whenever it recognizes bacterial or viral genetic information, specifically DNA. Instantly, the immune system initiates the process of fighting off the infection. This initial protective mechanism is very fast because it focuses on recognition of basic structural properties – in this case bacterial or viral DNA. Now, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have shown that TLR9 not only quickly recognizes DNA, it also waits, ready for action, right at the site where it will encounter it.

http://idw-online.de/en/news514878