GRK 3051:  Assessment of behaviour and stress responses to understand and improve veterinary infectious diseases models

• Subject Area: Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 529208971

Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites cause enormous harm to animals and humans. Especially in veterinary medicine, many infectious diseases threaten animals that are kept as pets or serve as farm animals for food production. Research into infectious diseases relies heavily on animal models, as they provide important insights into the pathogenesis and immune responses and are of greatest significance in veterinary and human medicine. It is therefore the cornerstone in protecting animals and humans from various pathogens. In addition, animal model-based research often exhibits translational character and can be applied to other animal species or humans. To date, most animal models used for infectious disease research cannot be replaced by alternative in vitro methods due to the systemic nature of the disease mechanisms. They are also of particular importance in deciphering immune responses or testing vaccines and anti-infective drugs. Although knowledge of infectious diseases has increased considerably over the last decades, the implementation of refinement measures in the animal models used has been neglected. In the 3RTG, we will employ the most common experimental host species (mice, chickens, pigs and dogs) and infection models well-established in our laboratories, including viral (Marek's disease virus, Theiler virus and Hepatitis virus E), bacterial (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus S. pseudintermedius) and parasitic (Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Giardia muris) infections. Although it is obvious that infected animals experience stress and alter their behaviour, data regarding stress responses and behavioural changes are lacking. In the 3RTG, we will address the central hypothesis of these infections causing general stress responses and behavioural changes, which can be assessed on metabolic level or by video observation and artificial intelligence analysis, respectively. New insights into these stress responses and behavioural changes will increase our knowledge of the respective diseases whilst contributing to minimise the disease burden on the experimental animals. Our strategy will allow us to compare stress responses and behavioural data between different species and classes of pathogens, leading to important synergies by using standardised methods. The interdisciplinary 3RTG graduate school will be fundamental in the training of doctoral candidates working at the forefront of infectious disease research, applying innovative analytics and animal welfare to experimental and farm animals.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Participating Institution: Robert Koch-Institut (RKI); Technische Universität Berlin
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Christa Thöne-Reineke
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Sonja Bröer; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Bäumer; Professor Dr. Marcus Fulde; Professorin Dr. Susanne Hartmann; Professor Dr.-Ing. Olaf Hellwich; Professor Benedikt Bertold Kaufer, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Burkhard Kleuser; Professorin Dr. Maria Kristina Parr; Dr. Josephine Schlosser-Brandenburg