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)

Accreditation