Goethe-Universit盲t 鈥� Press releases

51猎奇 PR & Communication Department聽

Nov 6 2024

16:08

鈥淧oetics of Rhythm鈥�: German Research Foundation (DFG) funds Reinhart Koselleck Project by Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke聽

Rhythm as 鈥渇orm in motion鈥� and its significance for poetics

What is the significance of rhythm for poetics? Literary studies research has not yet answered this question exhaustively. Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke wants to change this. He will work on the poetics of rhythm within a Reinhart Koselleck Project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

FRANKFURT. 鈥淧oetics of Rhythm" 鈥� that is the title of a project currently in the starting blocks at 51猎奇 Frankfurt. The aim of Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke, Professor for Literary Theory and Comparative Literature, is to unfold the possibilities of a poetics of rhythm, which have not yet been fully exploited by literary studies, both systematically and historically. He combines the question of the fundamental significance of rhythm for the theory and practice of poetry (= poetics) with that of concrete manifestations of this phenomenon in poetry from modernity to the present day.

At the heart of the research work is rhythm in poetry. Is rhythm in poetry not simply meter? Not at all, says Achim Geisenhansl眉ke. Although rhythm also describes 鈥渇orm in motion" in poetic speech, it is far more encompassing than the concept of meter. Especially with regard to modern poetry, the potential offered by the concept of rhythm has so far hardly been studied. In his approach, Geisenhansl眉ke is above all continuing the work of Henri Meschonnic (1932-2009), the French poet, linguist and literary scholar who induced an upward revaluation of the concept of rhythm as part of a critical analysis of structuralist and post-structuralist literary theories.

Achim Geisenhansl眉ke's project will approach the topic in three sub-studies: The first will focus on rhythm in the poems of Friedrich H枚lderlin, the second will critically examine Foucault's theory of discourse and Meschonnic's theory of rhythm, while the third sub-study is dedicated to rhythm as 鈥渇orm in motion" in modern poetry up to the present day, from Annette von Droste-H眉lshoff and Charles Baudelaire to Thomas Kling.

The financial support from the German Research Foundation (DFG) allows the freedom needed to pursue all these aspects. The project will receive 鈧�750,000 in increments spread over five years, which can be distributed flexibly for teaching replacements, recruiting staff, assistants, workshops and conferences.

The funding line, which has existed since 2008, is named after Reinhart Koselleck (1923-2006), one of the most important German historians of the 20th century, who is considered a co-founder of modern social history. Reinhart Koselleck Projects are awarded to 鈥渙utstanding researchers with a proven scientific track record". The prerequisites for approval are exceptionally innovative approaches or a higher degree of risk.

In the case of Achim Geisenhansl眉ke's project, the risks lie in the attempt, within a comparative approach, to take rhythm, a concept that is as central to literary studies as it is underestimated, and use it to give poetics new impetus: No risk, no gain.

A portrait photograph of Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke is available for download at: https://www.puk.uni-frankfurt.de/160017255

Caption: Within a Reinhart Koselleck Project, Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke is examining the role of rhythm as a concept in literary theory. (Photo: Uwe Dettmar)

Further information
Professor Achim Geisenhansl眉ke
Department of Literary Theory and Comparative Literature
Faculty of Modern Languages
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0) 69 798-32869
gei senhanslueke@lingua.uni-frankfurt.de

Nov 6 2024

15:28

International study led by 51猎奇 Frankfurt sheds light on previously unknown interaction

New mechanism: How cancer cells escape the immune system

An international team led by 51猎奇 Frankfurt has identified an intracellular sensor that monitors the quality of so-called MHC-I molecules, which help the immune system recognize and kill harmful cells, including tumor cells. The sensor ensures that defective MHC-I molecules remain inside the cell, where they are eventually degraded. Surprisingly, a lack of this quality assurance can lead to more MHC-I molecules reaching the surface of cancer cells, triggering a stronger immune response against the tumor.

FRANKFURT. It is comparatively easy to tell a cell's state of health: On their surface, cells present fragments of almost all the proteins they contain inside. This means the immune system can directly recognize whether a cell has been infected by a virus or has been dangerously altered by a mutation.

Countless molecular 鈥渞adio masts" 鈥� the MHC-I molecules 鈥� are responsible for presenting these fragments. They are assembled inside the cell and then transported to the membrane, the lipid layer surrounding the cell. Here, the masts are anchored such that the cargo faces outside and can be detected by troops of the immune system constantly patrolling the body. If these troops detect harmful molecules being presented on the MHC-I radio masts, they kill the relevant cell. A requirement, however, is that the masts themselves are fully functional; otherwise, there is a risk that this mechanism will not work and harmful cells escape the immune system. 鈥淲e have now discovered a sensor inside the cell that ensures that only functional MHC-I molecules are transported to the plasma membrane, while the defective units are eliminated," explains Dr. Lina Herhaus, who until recently conducted research on this topic at 51猎奇's Institute of Biochemistry II and is now leading an independent research group at Braunschweig-based Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research.

Cells continuously produce a large number of proteins to sustain their manifold functions. If errors occur during this process, the affected molecules are usually eliminated. Specialized receptors recognize defective proteins and route them to mini garbage bags, where they are broken down. 鈥淎s part of our study, we searched for yet unknown receptors and came across a protein called IRGQ, which is specifically responsible for ensuring the quality control of the MHC-I radio masts," says Herhaus.

The researchers used genetic interference to suppress the production of IRGQ. The result: defective radio masts accumulated in the cells, some of which were also incorporated into the cell membrane, together with their functional counterparts. 鈥淵ou would actually expect cells without IRGQ to trigger a weaker immune response. However, this is obviously not the case: Having analyzed various human tumors, we found that less IRGQ was associated with a better survival rate of patients with liver cancer," explains Prof. Ivan 膼iki膰 from the Institute of Biochemistry II, who co-led the study with Herhaus. The patient data was also confirmed in an experimental liver cancer mouse model: In animals without IRGQ, the immune system attacked tumor cells much more aggressively; as a result, the rodents without IRGQ survived the cancer significantly longer.

IRGQ could represent a target structure for new drugs, at least for liver cell carcinomas 鈥� the world's second most deadly type of cancer. 鈥淲e have found a new mechanism by which tumor cells evade the immune system. In further studies, we will now examine IRGQ's influence on other types of cancer," emphasizes 膼iki膰. 鈥淥ur findings could be used in future to develop new therapies for liver cancer. One example would be to use drugs to target IRGQ for degradation and thereby stimulate the immune response against the cancer."

Irrespective of this, the newly discovered mechanism is also exciting for basic research. 鈥淲e want to find out how important IRGQ is for the functioning of the immune system in general, including during viral infections," says Herhaus. 鈥淭he results of our study raise a whole series of interesting questions, the answers to which can deepen our understanding of the body's immune defense."

Publication: Lina Herhaus, Ux铆a Gestal-Mato, Vinay V. Eapen, Igor Ma膷inkovi膰, Henry J. Bailey, Cristian Prieto-Garcia, Mohit Misra, Anne-Claire Jacomin, Aparna Viswanathan Ammanath, Ivan Bagari膰, Jolina Michaelis, Joshua Vollrath, Ramachandra M. Bhaskara, Georg B眉ndgen, Adriana Covarrubias-Pinto, Koraljka Husnjak, Jonathan Z枚ller, Ajami Gikandi, Sara Ribi膷i膰, Tobias Bopp, Gerbrand J. van der Heden van Noort, Julian D. Langer, Andreas Weigert, J. Wade Harper, Joseph D. Mancias, Ivan 脨iki膰: IRGQ-mediated autophagy in MHC-I quality control promotes tumor immune evasion. Cell (2024),

Participating institutions:
Institute of Biochemistry II, 51猎奇 Frankfurt
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Institutes of Medicine
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School
Institute of Biochemistry I, Universit盲tsmedizin Frankfurt
Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 51猎奇 Frankfurt
Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt
University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center

Images for download:

Captions:
1. Cells: Once cells' quality control mechanism is activated, IRGQ (red) accumulates in special cell organelles, the lsysosomes (green). This is also where the degradation of the non-functional MHC-I molecules takes place. Photo: Dr. Lina Herhaus, 51猎奇 Frankfurt
2. IRGQ-Structure (pink/orange) IRGQ is anchored via another protein (gray) in the membrane of the 鈥済arbage bags" in which the non-functional MHC-I molecules are packaged. The bags later fuse with the lysosomes, which initiates the degradation of the molecules. Image: Henry Bailey, 51猎奇 Frankfurt

Further information
Professor Ivan 脨iki膰
Institute of Biochemistry II
and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0) 69 6301-5964
dikic@biochem2.uni-frankfurt.de

Lina Herhaus, Ph.D.
Group Leader - Immune Signaling
HZI - Helmholtz-Zentrum f眉r Infektionsforschung GmbH
Lina.herhaus@helmholtz-hzi.de

Twitter/X: @goetheuni @IBC2 @Helmholtz_HZI

Nov 4 2024

10:32

51猎奇 adopts paper on the tension between academic freedom, freedom of expression and social responsibility

Science between freedom and responsibility

On the occasion of its 110th anniversary, 51猎奇 Frankfurt released a paper outlining its positioning in the area of tension between science鈥檚 social responsibility, academic freedom and freedom of opinion. Its main message: the university offers science a space for autonomy and creativity while simultaneously defending it against non-scientific interests. However, this autonomy also has its limits and requires responsible handling, both on the part of the university as well as its members and affiliates. The paper supplements the university's mission statement and specifies the rights and obligations both of the university and its academics, as derived from Germany鈥檚 Basic Law and other legal norms.

FRANKFURT. The paper reaffirms 51猎奇鈥檚 self-image as a place where different academic views meet and struggle to make available groundbreaking knowledge. 鈥淪cience thrives on dialog, discussion and discourse with stakeholders both inside and outside of academia. This is especially true for our university, which was founded by Frankfurt鈥檚 urban society for its urban society. In such a culture, academics have to withstand the possibility that others may publicly contradict them or protest against their academic events 鈥� as long as such criticism or process remains within the confines of the law. That being said, whenever academic freedom is threatened by statements or actions, it falls upon us as a university to protect it,鈥� explains 51猎奇 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. 鈥淚t is important to remember that academic freedom does not apply to every statement made or event organized by scientists: There are indeed cases where they express their private opinions, for example on fields for which they are no experts, or pursue purely results-oriented ideological goals with an event. Such instances fall outside the domain of academic freedom and therefore outside the university's sphere of influence.鈥�

The paper was developed to provide a better basis for dealing with public criticism of and protests against public events organized by 51猎奇 academics. 鈥淢any debates are highly polarized. If we want to pursue science in dialog with society, we must neither shy away from nor avoid it,鈥� explains Schleiff. 鈥淎s professors, we are trained for scientific discourse. But we also have to learn how to deal with criticism and arguments that are not of a scientific nature and how to remain confident in emotionally heated situations.鈥� That is why the university has set up new training courses, including in facilitation and communication, to strengthen scientists鈥� skills, also during confrontational moments.

The paper was drawn up by an expert commission headed by legal scholar Prof. Matthias Jahn. In legal terms, it has the character of an administrative regulation that specifies standards: By explaining the applicable law, it serves as a binding guideline for all university members. It cannot, however, account for every individual decision. 鈥淭he university makes its infrastructure available to its researchers so they can pursue science, not to carry out on-scientific activities and formats. Determining whether or not this is the case requires a case-by-case consideration, which also accounts for the standards of the respective subject culture,鈥� Jahn explains. 鈥淭he university鈥檚 management is not permitted to control the content of science, and controversies about the way in which knowledge is gained and interpreted fall under the scientific community鈥檚 responsibility. However, the university management can decide, for example, not to make rooms available for an event that is not subject to academic freedom if this decision is organizationally safeguarded in such a manner that a structural threat to academic freedom can be excluded. If academics consider such a decision to be wrong, they have recourse to the courts.鈥� The courts, in turn, have to consider the specifics of the university's self-conception, explains Jahn, who has worked at various higher regional courts on a part-time basis for two decades.

The paper also clarifies that although academic freedom is guaranteed extensively in Germany鈥檚 Basic Law, this is no blank check guarantee for limitless scientific practice: It is possible to impose restrictions in individual cases in favor of goods that are considered to have greater merit, such as fundamental and human rights, freedom of education for students or the personal rights of third parties. If this is the case, the consequences can be severe: 鈥淰iolations of this obligation (...) can constitute misconduct鈥�, the paper states.

The administrative regulation specifying the standard was adopted by 51猎奇鈥檚 Executive Board following earlier debates in both the Senate and the University Council. The draft was also discussed with representatives of Frankfurt municipality.

The official wording of the new administrative regulation:

Nov 4 2024

07:58

Plans for joint research and teaching cooperation / Concert marks 51猎奇鈥檚 110th anniversary

51猎奇 and Jewish Academy sign cooperation agreement

51猎奇 Frankfurt and the Jewish Academy operated by the Central Council of Jews in Germany [Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland] are planning to deepen their cooperation. The relevant cooperation agreement was signed on October 30, 2024, by Central Council President Dr. Josef Schuster and 51猎奇 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. The signing ceremony was followed by a reception and concert in the hr broadcasting hall, celebrating 51猎奇鈥檚 110th birthday.

FRANKFURT. The Jewish Academy is currently being set up in Frankfurt. Once operational, it will become an important center for the study of Jewish history and religion, culture and intellectual thought and both take up and enrich current debates 鈥� whether with regard to research, academic teaching or interaction with society. With this in mind, 51猎奇 and the Jewish Academy have entered into an 鈥渋nstitutional cooperation in the sense of a permanent and consistent academic collaboration鈥�, as outlined in the contract signed last Wednesday. Headquartered in Frankfurt, the Jewish Academy considers itself 鈥渁n intellectual hub and center of attraction for Jews from Germany and Europe, members of other religious communities and interested members of the public who are curious about Jewish, intercultural, interreligious or universalist issues.鈥�

鈥淭his cooperation builds on our university鈥檚 rich historical tradition as well as numerous present-day collaborations,鈥� explained President Schleiff. 鈥淎s an institution established by Frankfurt citizens for both urban and wider society, we owe our existence in large part to the city鈥檚 Jewish citizens of the time, who were among the founders of the endowed university in 1914. In the early 1920s, Franz Rosenzweig founded the Freie J眉dische Lehrhaus [Free Jewish Teaching House], which had many touch points with Frankfurt University. To this date we maintain a strong focus on Jewish religious studies, philosophy and Jewish studies, complemented by topics that extend beyond the boundaries of religion, including the dynamics of religion, cultures of remembrance or 'education after Auschwitz', to name just a few examples. Both this and the previous semester, we held a lecture series titled 'Antisemitism. Culture of Remembrance. Democracy鈥�, together with the Central Council's education academy, the Jewish Academy鈥檚 predecessor 鈥� also with a view towards the historical amnesia that has unfortunately manifested itself since Hamas鈥� October 7 attack on Israel.鈥�

鈥淭his cooperation is greatly important for the Jewish Academy and for Jewish life, not just in Frankfurt, but throughout Germany,鈥� says Central Council President Dr. Josef Schuster. 鈥淚t is here where common academic interests are lived, deepened and expanded. There already exist several projects that can now be cast in this new form. Universities are key to a modern society鈥檚 central nervous system, and their malfunctioning could plunge us all into the abyss. Ever since October 7, 2023, many German universities have become a setting for the darkest aspects of our society. It is partnerships like this that give us confidence that these forces will not prevail. By entering into this cooperation with the Jewish Academy, 51猎奇 Frankfurt is taking an important step together with Jewish life, thought and perspectives on our society in these turbulent times.鈥�

鈥淎s a foundation university established on the initiative of many Jewish citizens, 51猎奇 Frankfurt has stood for equal opportunities and the integration of Jewish perspectives in academia and society for more than a century,鈥� Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein said. 鈥淭his cooperation with the Jewish Academy not only builds on and continues this tradition, it also deepens it in a special way and carries it into the future. In times like these, it is particularly important to truly live cultural and religious diversity and to strengthen our society鈥檚 democratic resilience by means of institutional cooperation.鈥�

鈥淭his cooperation creates a very special bond between 51猎奇 Frankfurt, which owes its foundation largely to the efforts of large Jewish families, and the Jewish Academy run by the Central Council umbrella organization, which at the same time serves as the representative of Germany鈥檚 Jewish communities,鈥� added Uwe Becker, Hessen鈥檚 state commissioner for Jewish life and the fight against antisemitism and a state secretary in the Hessian Ministry of Finance, who conveyed minister Rhein鈥檚 greetings at the signing ceremony. 鈥淚t combines the tradition of the Jewish Teaching House with the underlying idea that teaching and learning be linked and anchored in society. I am certain that this will result in a think tank for Jewish and non-Jewish perspectives on our society鈥檚 development that is unique in Europe.鈥�

The strategic goals and fields of action outlined in the agreement signed in Frankfurt include the continuation of existing as well as the initiation of further research collaborations to address new research questions and perspectives from a transdisciplinary perspective and to enrich discourse. In addition, the cooperation seeks to strengthen collaborative research and cooperation with a focus on top international research, the joint acquisition of funds, as well as mutual support in the acquisition of partners. Beyond that, it sets the stage for research-oriented teaching, jointly supervised doctoral theses, the opening of selected events and joint lecture series, workshops, seminars or conferences as well as publications, among others.

Prof. Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and honorary professor at 51猎奇 Frankfurt, also gave a keynote speech at the signing ceremony held on the premises of Hessischer Rundfunk (hr). Following the signing, 51猎奇 celebrated its 110th birthday in the hr broadcasting hall with a reception and a concert by the symphony orchestra of Tel Aviv University鈥檚 Buchmann-Mehta School of Music under the direction of renowned conductor Zubin Mehta, featuring works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Paul Ben-Haim. In addition to those present at the signing ceremony, other guests included Federal Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Dr. Ina Hartwig, Head of Frankfurt鈥檚 Department of Culture and Science. Tel Aviv University has been a partner of 51猎奇 Frankfurt since 1984. This special friendship was initiated by the joint Josef Buchmann Doctoral Scholarship Fund. The concert was a birthday present presented to 51猎奇 by honorary senator Dr. h.c. Josef Buchmann and Dr. h.c. Bareket Buchmann.

Oct 4 2024

08:43

Toxins from remipede crabs in Mexican cenote caves have pharmacological potential // Species' habitat threatened

Pharmacology: Venomous crustacean from Mayan underwater caves provides new drug candidates

Zootoxins affect a wide range of physiological processes and are therefore of great interest for drug research. An international study led by Bj枚rn von Reumont of 51猎奇 Frankfurt has identified novel toxins from the cave-dwelling underwater crustacean Xibalbanus tulumensis that inhibit various ion channels. The discovery opens up promising pharmacological applications. The species is found exclusively in the cenote caves that were once sacred to the Maya.

FRANKFURT. Many animals use venoms for self-defense or hunting. The components of such venom, known as toxins, interfere with various physiological processes 鈥� which is also the reason why they are so interesting for the development of new pharmacological agents. While the venoms of some animal groups 鈥� including snakes, spiders, scorpions and insects 鈥� have already been quite well studied, the situation is entirely different for marine animal groups. Here, data exists only for individual animal species, meaning this group still holds great untapped potential.

It was only discovered a few years ago that there also exist venomous crustaceans, i.e. remipedes that look more like centipedes and live in marine underwater caves. A multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Bj枚rn von Reumont, who first described the venom system in remipedes in 2014 and is currently a guest researcher at 51猎奇 Frankfurt, has now characterized a group of toxins from the Xibalbanus tulumensis remipede.

To that end, Reumont put together a team consisting of cooperation partners from Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine (ITMP) within the framework of the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity, as well as colleagues from the University of Leuven, from Cologne, Berlin and Munich 鈥� all of them also part of the European Venom Network (COST Action EUVEN).

The Xibalbanus tulumensis remipede lives in the cenotes which are the underwater cave systems on the Mexican Yucatan peninsula. The cave dweller injects the venom produced in its venom gland directly into its prey. This toxin contains a variety of components, including a new type of peptide, named xibalbine, after its crustacean producer. Some of these xibalbines contain a characteristic structural element that is familiar from other toxins, especially those produced by spiders: several amino acids (cysteines) of the peptide are bound to each other in such a manner that they form a knot-like structure. This in turn makes the peptides resistant to enzymes, heat and extreme pH values. Such knottins often act as neurotoxins, interacting with ion channels and paralyzing prey 鈥� an effect that has also been proposed for some xibalbines.

The study shows that all the xibalbine peptides tested by the cooperation partners' doctoral students 鈥� and in particular Xib1, Xib2 and Xib13 鈥� effectively inhibit potassium channels in mammalian systems. 鈥淭his inhibition is greatly important when it comes to developing drugs for a range of neurological diseases, including epilepsy," says von Reumont. Xib1 and Xib13 also exhibit the ability to inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels, such as those found in nerve or heart muscle cells. In addition, in the sensory neurons of higher mammals, the two peptides can activate two proteins 鈥� kinases PKA-II and ERK1/2 鈥� involved in signal transduction. The latter suggests that they are involved in pain sensitization, which opens up new approaches in pain therapy.

Although the xibalbines' bioactivity is exemplary of the untapped potential of marine biodiversity, the production of drugs from animal venoms is a complex and time-consuming process. 鈥淔inding suitable candidates and comprehensively characterizing their effects, thus laying the foundation for safe and effective drugs, is only possible today in a large interdisciplinary team, as in the case of our study," says von Reumont.

Making matters more difficult is the fact that time is of the essence for the remipedes. Their habitat is under serious threat from the construction of the Tren Maya intercity railroad network, which cuts straight through the Yucatan Peninsula. 鈥淭he cenotes are a highly sensitive ecosystem," explains von Reumont, who, as an experienced cave diver, has collected remipedes in Yucatan during several cave diving expeditions. 鈥淥ur study highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity, not only for its ecological significance, but also for potential substances that could be of crucial importance to us humans."

Publication: Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior, Ehsan Alirahimi, Steve Peigneur, J枚rg Isensee, Susanne Schiffmann, Pelin Erkoc, Robert F眉rst, Andreas Vilcinskas, Tobias Sennoner, Ivan Koludarov, Benjamin-Florian Hempel, Jan Tytgat, Tim Hucho, Bj枚rn M von Reumont: Diversely evolved xibalbin variants from remipede venom inhibit potassium channels and activate PKA-II and Erk1/2 signaling. BMC Biology 22, 164 (2024)

Picture download:

Captions:

(Entry)
Entrance to a cenote: Cenotes were once sacred to the Maya, as the karst caves were considered the entrance to the divine underworld. Photo: Bj枚rn M. von Reumont

(Diving)
Dive in the cenotes: The researchers collect the underwater crab Xibalbanus tulumensis, which only occurs here. Photo: Bj枚rn M. von Reumont

(Xibalbanus)
Toxic underwater crustacean: Xibalbanus tulumensis contains toxins that are suitable for the development of active substances against neurological diseases. Photo: Bj枚rn M. von Reumont

Further information
Dr. rer. nat. habil. Bj枚rn M. von Reumont
Guest researcher at the Research Group for Applied Bioinformatics/Prof. Ingo Ebersberger
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel. +49(0)151-61997924
bmvr@reumont.net

Twitter/X: @BReumont @goetheuni @LOEWE_TBG @FraunhoferITMP @EUVENAction @KU_Leuven @UniCologne