GRK 3096:  One Health approach to soil-transmitted helminths

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 536355188

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are among the most common neglected diseases in humans and animals. In addition, STH infections affect the anthropogenic environment through long-term soil contamination, confined access to the health care system, inferior socioeconomic factors, and anthelmintic resistance. These extremely detrimental consequences of STH infections contrast sharply with the low scientific and public awareness of the negative impact of these infections and the lack of training of future researchers in this field in Germany. The RTG aims to close this gap by educating the next generation of helminthologists in a One Health approach, addressing human infections, animal infections and the anthropogenic environment. Research in the three One Health areas will focus on ascarid infections in humans (Ascaris lumbricoides), in pigs (Ascaris suum) and in chickens (Ascaridia galli). Innovative research projects will cover the following key areas: I) understanding the impact of ascarid infections in early life, II) deciphering the metabolic and microbial interactions of ascarids with their hosts, III) investigating the impact of ascarids on coinfections and unrelated vaccines, IV) elucidating mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance, V) addressing health system barriers and enablers & development of health economic programs, and VI) modelling of biotic and abiotic factors influencing the survival of worm eggs in soil and transmission to wildlife. The scientific projects in the three One Health areas will be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner through joint studies: a) a birth cohort study in Kenya in close collaboration with partners from leading research and training institutions in Kenya; b) experimental infections and studies in organic pig and chicken farms in Germany, and c) anthropogenic environmental effects in Germany and Kenya. The scientific topics and joint studies are central to the training concept of the RTG. The aim is to train scientists in the latest technologies and specific skills, with comprehensive 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 tailored courses and workshops. The scientific content-based training is complemented by comprehensive training in social and transferable skills. The overall aim of RTG 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.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Participating Institution: Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde; Leibniz-Institut für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW); im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.; Robert Koch-Institut (RKI)
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Susanne Hartmann
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Johanna Hanefeld; Professorin Dr. Stephanie Kramer-Schadt; Professorin Dr. Raluca Aura Niesner; Dr. Francisco Pozo-Martin, Ph.D.; Dr. Sebastian Rausch; Professorin Dr. Isabelle Ruhnke; Professorin Eva-Maria Saliu, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna