Some bacteria and viruses found in domestic and wild animals can cause infections in humans, known as zoonoses. To date, little is known about the presence of these pathogens outside of human and animal hosts—a knowledge gap that is particularly significant in the context of changing agricultural systems.
The goal of the Leibniz Science Campus EcoPath is to gain insights into the spread and survival of zoonotic pathogens in the environment. By applying principles of evolutionary ecology, the Campus researchers aim to gain a causal understanding of the mechanisms that enable these pathogens to persist, reproduce, and circulate in the environment. This integrated assessment enables significant progress in evaluating zoonotic risks within the context of modern livestock systems.
The project is funded by the Leibniz Association and the State of Lower Saxony.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Nübel
Leibniz-Institut DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig
Phone: +49-531-2616-390
E-mail: Ulrich.Nuebel@DSMZ.de