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Unit 15: Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses

Head:
Claus-Thomas Bock
Deputy:
Sabine Diedrich

The unit analyses human pathogens, primarily fecal-orally transmitted pathogens of viral gastroenteritis (calici- and rotaviruses), hepatitis viruses (HEV, as well as HBV and HCV) and enteroviruses for their properties and variability for the purpose of monitoring virus circulation by means of molecular epidemiological methods. The investigations are carried out in close cooperation with national and international networks.

The National Reference Center and the Regional WHO/EURO Reference Center for Poliomyelitis and Enteroviruses (NRC PE) and, since 2010, the office of the National Committee for Polio Eradication in Germany, as well as the Consultant Laboratory for Noroviruses and the Consultant Laboratory for Rotaviruses are located in the department. The main tasks of the NRC PE and the CLs for noroviruses and rotaviruses include the surveillance of circulating viruses, analysis of pathogen variability, special diagnostics (e.g. fine typing), quality assurance, surveillance of enteroviruses and analyses of outbreaks (in collaboration with Dept. 3). These laboratories carry out consulting, diagnostics and scientific studies within the framework of their remit.

The work on hepatitis viruses is aimed at carrying out special diagnostics including studies on pathogen properties, antiviral resistance and fine and genotyping. The aim is to record the occurrence and dynamics of hepatitis viruses circulating in Germany, in particular hepatitis E viruses (HEV), to analyse them molecularly and epidemiologically and to characterize the risk potential posed by wild-type viruses and virus variants.

The Consultant Laboratories for Norovirus and Rotavirus are accredited in accordance to DIN EN ISO 15189 and DIN EN ISO/IEC17025 on the basis of DIN EN ISO 9001 (DAkkS)

Tasks

Viral gastroenteritides

Consultant Laboratory for Noroviruses

  • Molecular-epidemiological analyses on the circulation of noroviruses and other gastroenteritis viruses (pathogen variability, transmission)
  • Investigations on the recombination of viral RNA
  • Pathogenesis of norovirus infection
  • Cooperation within the European "NoroNet" for the surveillance of norovirus circulation in Europe

Consultant Laboratory for Rotaviruses

  • Molecular detection of rotaviruses of Group A, B and C
  • Molecular-epidemiological investigations on the circulation of rotavirus A (G/P typing)
  • Differentiation of wild and vaccine viruses

Poliomyelitis and enteroviruses

National Reference Centre for Poliomyelitis and Enteroviruses (NRC PE) and Regional Reference Laboratory of the WHO/EURO for Poliomyelitis

  • Detection of enteroviruses in patients with aseptic meningitis/encephalitis and acute flaccid paralyses
  • Molecular epidemiologic analysis of selected picornavirus serotypes
  • Intratypical differentiation of poliovirus isolates using molecular methods (PCR, sequencing in different genome regions)

Office of the National Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication in Germany

  • Surveillance of polio-free status of Germany within the context of the WHO programme for the eradication of poliomyelitis (National Enterovirus Surveillance)
  • Coordination of the laboratory network for enterovirus diagnostics in Germany (LaNED)
  • Monitoring of laboratory containment for polioviruses (§50a IfSG)

Viral hepatitis

Laboratory for Hepatitis Virus Infections

  • Molecular-epidemiological investigations on the circulation of hepatitis viruses (HEV, HBV and HCV)
  • Variability of hepatitis viruses, especially HEV, in connection with persistence and therapy resistance
  • Molecular mechanisms of cellular interference mechanisms and pathogenesis of hepatitis viruses (HEV)

Further information

Date: 17.01.2024

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Publications

  • Cao LC, Martin V, Linh LTK, Giang TT, Chau NTM, Anh TNP, Nghia VX, The NT, My TN, Sy BT, Toan NL, Song LH, Bock CT*, Velavan TP* (*contribute equally) (2023): High Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Seroprevalence and No Evidence of HEV Viraemia in Vietnamese Blood Donors
    Viruses 15 (10): 2075. doi: 10.3390/v15102075. more

  • Klink P, Harms D, Altmann B, Dörffel Y, Morgera U, Zander S, Bock CT*, Hofmann J* (*contribute equally) (2023): Molecular characterisation of a rabbit Hepatitis E Virus strain detected in a chronically HEV-infected individual from Germany
    One Health 16: 100528. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100528. more

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  • Pilatz A, Arneth B, Kaiser R, Heger E, Pirkl M, Böttcher S, Fritzenwanker M, Renz H, Mankertz A, Schuppe HC, Wagenlehner F (2023): Acute orchitis deciphered: Coxsackievirus B strains are the main etiology and their presence in semen is associated with acute inflammation and risk of persistent oligozoospermia
    J Med Virol 95 (7): e28970. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28970. more

  • Wu E, Koch N, Bachmann F, Schulz M, Seelow E, Weber U, Waiser J, Halleck F, Faber M, Bock CT, Eckardt KU, Budde K, Hofmann J, Nickel P, Choi M (2023): Risk Factors for Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Eating Habits in Kidney Transplant Recipients
    Pathogens 12 (6): 850. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12060850. more

  • Akinnurun OM, Narvaez Encalada M, Orth J, Petzold M, Böttcher S, Diedrich S, Smitka M, Schröttner P (2023): Enterovirus A71-associated acute flaccid paralysis in a pediatric patient: a case report.
    J Med Case Rep 17 (1): 310. doi: 10.1186/s13256-023-04041-6. more

  • Biedermann P, Klink P, Nocke MK, Papp CP, Harms D, Kebelmann M, Thürmer A, Choi M, Altmann B, Todt D, Hofmann J, Bock CT (2023): Insertions and deletions in the hypervariable region of the hepatitis E virus genome in individuals with acute and chronic infection
    Liv Int 43: 794-804. doi: 10.1111/liv.15517. more

  • Niendorf S, Mas Marques A, Bock CT, Jacobsen S (2022): Diversity of human astroviruses in Germany 2018 and 2019
    Virology Journal 19 (1): 5. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01955-3. more

  • Krzysztoszek A, Gad B, Diedrich S, Böttcher S, Wieczorek M (2022): Investigation of airport sewage to detect importation of poliovirus, Poland, 2017 to 2020.
    Euro Surveill 27 (24): 2100674. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.24.2100674. more

  • Jacobsen S, Niendorf S, Lorenz R, Bock CT, Mas Marques A, (2022): Differentiation between Wild-Type Group A Rotaviruses and Vaccine Strains in Cases of Suspected Horizontal Transmission and Adverse Events Following Vaccination
    Viruses 14 (8): 1670. doi: 10.3390/v14081670. more

  • Papp C, Biedermann P, Harms D, Wang B, Kebelmann M, Choi M, Thürmer A, Altmann B, Klink P, Hofmann J, Bock CT (2022): Advanced sequencing approaches detected insertions of viral and human origin in the viral genome of chronic hepatitis E virus patients.
    Sci Rep 12 (1): 1720. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-05706-w. more

  • Niendorf S, Harms D, Hellendahl KF, Heuser E, Böttcher S, Bock CT, Ulrich RG (2021): Presence and diversity of different enteric viruses in wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus).
    Viruses 13 (6): 992. Epub May 26. doi: 10.3390/v13060992. more

  • Keeren K, Böttcher S on behalf of the LaNED; Diedrich S (2021): Enterovirus surveillance (EVSurv) in Germany.
    Microorganisms 9 (10): 2005. Epub Sep 22. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9102005. more

  • Osundare FA, Klink P, Akanbi OA, Wang B, Harms D, Ojurongbe O, Ajayi MA, Babaranti EO, Bock CT, Opaleye OO (2021): Hepatitis E virus infection in high-risk populations in Osun State, Nigeria.
    One Health 13: 100256. Epub Apr 28. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100256. more

  • Schneider J, Engler M, Hofmann J, Selinka HC, Jones TC, Drosten C, Diedrich S, Corman VM, Böttcher S (2021): Molecular detection of cosaviruses in a patient with acute flaccid paralysis and in sewage samples in Germany.
    Virus Res. 297: 198285. Epub Feb 3. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198285. more

  • Opaleye OO, Akanbi OA, Osundare FA, Wang B, Adesina O, Oluremi AS, Sunday ST, Akindele AA, Klink P, Bock CT (2021): Prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis B and D virus infections among HIV-positive individuals in Southwestern Nigeria.
    Virol. J. 18 (1): 20. Epub Jan 15. doi: 10.1186/s12985-021-01493-4. more

  • Koukou G, Niendorf S, Hornei B, Schlump JU, Jenke AC, Jacobsen S (2019): Human astrovirus infection associated with encephalitis in an immunocompetent child: a case report.
    J. Med. Case Rep. 13 (1): 341. Epub Nov 23. doi: 10.1186/s13256-019-2302-6. more

  • Böttcher S, Diedrich S, Keeren K; The Laboratory Network for Enterovirus Diagnostic LaNED (2019): Increased detection of enterovirus A71 infections, Germany, 2019.
    Euro Surveill. 24 (39): pii=1900556. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.39.1900556. more