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Preventing and combating Campylobacter infections: On track towards a One Health approach (PAC-CAMPY 2)

11/2020-10/2022

Funding programme / funding institution: BMBF

Grant number: 01KI2007B

Project homepage: https://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/de/horizontaler-gentransfer-als-faktor-einer-erhohten-fitness-12653.php

Project description:

Campylobacter is a major cause of acute bacterial enteritis in humans and causes a high economic burden in industrialized nations worldwide. In addition, immunological sequelae of infections such as the Guillain-Barré-Syndrome or chronic arthritis account for serious suffering. The increasing number of officially registered human cases creates the urgent need for development of novel strategies for prevention, control and treatment of Campylobacter infections. To achieve this, we are proposing several coordinated lines of research within this closely linked One Health consortium represented by veterinarians, food microbiologists, physicians, epidemiologists, microbiologists, public health experts and basic researchers. We aim to use the cooperative power of this network to investigate the efficacy of mitigation strategies established along the food chain, survival strategies outside the host and host-pathogen interaction in order to limit pathogen colonisation and spread in affected animals, in humans and in the environment, respectively. In line with investigations of virulence, genetic exchange, epidemiology, transmission and survival, these measures will provide novel strategies to prevent and combat both, Campylobacter colonisation in chickens as well as human infections. Another major focus is set onto the development of novel molecular methods that will allow for sensitive quantitative detection of Campylobacter spp. at all stages of the food chain. Finally, models of risk intervention and improved source attribution, based on data generated by the consortium, will support public health authorities and industry to focus intervention measures accordingly.

Project partners:

• Freie Universität Berlin
• Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Robert Koch-Institut
• Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit
• Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Lebensmittelsicherheit und -hygiene
• Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Tier- und Umwelthygiene

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