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How do resistant strains of tuberculosis develop and spread? One of the largest genomic studies of tuberculosis in Ukraine to date shows that a large number of drug-resistant pathogens belong to just a few, closely related groups of pathogens. The findings highlight the importance of continuous genomic surveillance of tuberculosis and other antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Prof. Dr Stefan Niemann from the Research Alliance Leibniz INFECTIONS was involved in the study.
INFECTIONS researcher Dr. ir. Margo Diricks from the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center (FZB) has been awarded the 2026 Gertrud Meissner Prize. The award recognizes her outstanding work in the field of mycobacteriology.
The number of antibiotic prescriptions in German physician practices fell by 11.5 percent to 27 million in 2025, falling below 2019 levels for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is good news in terms of antibiotic resistance, as the prudent prescribing of antibiotics is a key element in preventing resistance.
AiRisk, a research network, is investigating a previously overlooked route of transmission for pathogens: dust from livestock farming. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of airborne transmission—which are currently poorly understood—and to develop effective prevention strategies based on these findings.
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies (Leibniz-IPHT) in Jena explain in the podcast “Mikroben im Visier” how Raman spectroscopy can detect resistant bacteria within a few hours. In the future, this method could help identify effective antibiotics more quickly and reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.