News 2026
15.01.2026
Congratulations on your habilitation, Priv. Doz. Dr. Thomas Theo Brehm!
On January 14, 2026, Dr. Thomas Theo Brehm was awarded his habilitation at the University of Hamburg. He was thus granted the teaching license “venia legendi.” The appointment as a private lecturer also confers the academic right to independently supervise doctoral students.
14.01.2026
Obituary Dr. Uwe Mamat
We were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of our former colleague Uwe Mamat.
Uwe Mamat was a true Borsteler veteran and a highly valued member of the research center since 1993. As an outstanding researcher, renowned bacterial molecular biologist, and phage expert, he had a lasting impact on our scientific work. At the end of 2023, we bid him farewell as he entered his well-deserved retirement.
12.01.2026
Non-invasive diagnosis of tuberculosis from respiratory masks
The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has so far been based primarily on sputum samples. However, not all patients are able to produce sufficient sputum. A recently published prospective study shows that face mask sampling (FMS) could be a promising, non-invasive addition to existing diagnostic methods. The manuscript was published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI).
09.01.2026
When gut bacteria collaborate: New insights into the functional microbiome
Scientists from the Research Center Borstel and the University of Belgrade (Serbia) have conducted a pilot study showing that daily intake of a probiotic supplement may improve behavioural symptoms in children with Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability.