Corona pandemic: research under strong precautions
After several months in emergency and reduced presence mode, the institute continues its research in June. Where possible, employees continue to work from home. For all those coming to the institute, work is organized in a way that the infection risk is minimized as far as possible. This includes the wearing of masks, staggered working and break times, as well as strict distancing rules.
All events and talks in presence are canceled until further notice, the canteen is currently closed.
The laboratories of Patrick Cramer, Dirk Görlich, and Henning Urlaub at the MPI-BPC are currently working together with other scientists from the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), the University of Göttingen, and other institutions in the CoV2DiaNetGÖ network of the Göttingen Campus to develop and expand diagnostic procedures for Covid-19 infections. The network is lead by Uwe Groß and Michael Weig of the Institute of Medical Microbiology of the UMG. The test capacities there will be considerably expanded so that as many patients as possible can be tested. Each participating research group contributes laboratory equipment, devices and above all individual expertise in order to achieve success as quickly as possible and help the society in these difficult times.
The laboratories of Patrick Cramer, Dirk Görlich, Marina Rodnina, Holger Stark, and Henning Urlaub have initiated further research projects that should contribute to overcoming the pandemic – already with success. Patrick Cramer and his team solved the structure of the "copy machine" of the new corona virus, which replicates the pathogen's RNA genome. If this machine is blocked the virus can not replicate any more. This makes it possible to investigate the effect of antiviral substances which inhibit the viral copy machine, such as the promising compound remdesivir.
