FVB research and activities relating to the coronavirus pandemic

Here is an overview of the coronavirus-relevant research and activities being undertaken at FVB institutes:

• Researchers at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) are studying new approaches in covid-19 diagnostics and therapy. These include antiviral compounds, such as an influenza inhibitor recently described by The FMP published a press release on March 30, 2020: Phage capsid against influenza: perfectly fitting inhibitor prevents viral infection
  In addition, scientists of the Screening Unit technology platform, headed by , are testing new substances that prevent the absorption of viruses into lung epithelial cells. To support diagnostics in the public at large, the FMP is developing a rapid test, supervised by Cell Engineering and . With regard to the question of how enveloped viruses enter the cells, the structure of the virus will be investigated using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) under the lead of
  Likewise, studies on the structure and dynamics of viral membrane proteins by means of solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are being planned, as these structures may be targets for antiviral inhibitors (Professor and ).
  FMP Director Professor Volker Haucke was a guest on the Leibniz Podcast “Tonspur Wissen” about the Covid-19 pandemic. He discussed the question how new drugs against Covid-19 can be found. Take a listen at: https://tonspurwissen.podigee.io/39-wie-organisiert-man-die-suche-nach-neuen-medikamenten (available only in German)
• At the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Professor Michael Monaghan is performing voluntary work in the coronavirus crisis. Together with a small group of researchers from Berlin’s universities, he is organizing a database of experts for Berlin to conduct coronavirus tests in a bid to increase capacity at local diagnostic laboratories. Read IGB’s report at: https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/news/igb-researcher-michael-monaghan-seeks-experts-genetics-corona-tests. In addition, IGB has donated its stocks of gloves, disinfectants and wipes to local care facilities in the district of Treptow-Köpenick.
• The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has passed on masks, protective gowns and other hygiene materials as a gift to Berlin and Brandenburg’s state laboratory (Adlershof) and to the German Red Cross Hospital Berlin Köpenick. Leibniz-IZW Director Professor Heribert Hofer was a guest on the Leibniz Podcast “Tonspur Wissen” about the Covid-19 pandemic. He discussed the question of whether animals can contract or transmit Covid-19. Take a listen at: https://tonspurwissen.podigee.io/17-konnen-tiere-covid19-bekommen-und-ubertragen (available only in German)
• The Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik (PDI) has donated around 1,200 protective masks to Charité, and is furthermore discussing the need for gloves and protective gowns.

• At the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), Dr. Markus Kantner and Dr. Thomas Koprucki have modelled and computed the corona pandemic: Beyond just "flattening the curve": Optimal control of epidemics with purely non-pharmaceutical interventions, https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.09471. The article was submitted for review on April 23, 2020.
  Prof. Dietmar Hömberg is co-organizer of the webinar "Mathematics of the COVID19 crisis – In the eye of the storm” on April 29, organized by the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) .