Time for Ticks?

Jena, 17 March 2011. Scientists from approximately 30 countries will present recent research results on tick-borne diseases and on the tick vector itself at the XI International Jena Symposium on Tick-borne Diseases from March 24 to 26 in Weimar. Subjects encompass the structure of various Borreliae, tick-borne encephalitis viruses and other pathogens, their ability to induce disease in humans and animals, as well as recent results on the molecular structure and on the behaviour of ticks. More than 200 participants from biology, human and veterinary medicine, ecologists and climate researchers will use the symposium for scientific exchange. The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI) Jena coordinates the organization of the event in cooperation with the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, the University of Hohenheim and the State Health Office of Baden-Württemberg at the Hotel Leonardo, Belvederer Allee 25 in Weimar.

Which genetic characteristics does a tick-borne pathogen need to induce disease in humans and animals? How does the TBE virus reach the brain? Which mechanisms are responsible for the induction of disease in humans? Is there a „tick weather“? These are the central questions of the symposium, the influence of genetics on eco-epidemiology and pathogenesis. But also practical questions, e.g. whether the castor bean tick which occurs in Central Europe is able to survive a wash cycle in the washing machine, will be answered. At the end of the symposium the winners of the Sinnecker-Kunz-Award for young scientists will be announced.

For information on the symposium please refer to the website http://www.tbd-symposium.com/Pages_public/ijstd_sym.aspx.

Contact:

Elke Reinking (Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit)
Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems
Telephone: +49 38351 7-1244, Fax: +49 38351 7-1226
E-Mail: Elke.Reinking@we dont want spamfli.bund.de