The research group Comparative Medicine focuses on laboratory animal science and human clinical studies. The laboratory animal science studies are primarily in the field of reproductive biology and microbiology. With respect to the human clinical studies, our goal is to determine the cytokine profiles during various diseases. This provides knowledge about different biological processes and can aid in the diagnostic of diseases at their early stages of development.
These research projects are focused mainly on determining cytokine profiles. Cytokines are small proteins involved in cell signaling. They are produced by various cell types, including immune cells, and are especially important for immune responses such as after bacterial infection. Therefore, cytokines can aid in extending the knowledge about diverse biological processes. Furthermore, they are a promising category of biomarkers for diagnosis because they are present in the early phases of diseases. To determine cytokine profiles for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various diseases, we are using the ELISA-based multiplex method to measure cytokines in different matrices such as serum, saliva, urine, synovial fluid, and tissue lysates. The multiplex method enables the quantification of multiple proteins in a single sample volume. Its use lies in the small sample size required (fluids: 12.5 µl per 96-well, lysates: 200 to 1000 µg protein per 96-well), prevention of pain by using matrices which can be obtained non-invasively (e.g. saliva and urine instead of tissue biopsies or blood draws) and reduction in time (hours instead of days).
Current projects include foreign-body-associated infections resulting from Staphylococcus epidermidis, cardiac arrest, stroke, healing of tendons in the elbow following tendon transplantation, and macular degeneration. Cytokine profiling is also performed to determine its suitability for diagnosis of implant-associated infections after orthopaedic surgeries including total knee replacements and spine surgeries, elbow arthroplasties, infectious and non-infectious spondylodiscitis.
Ferrari N, Bae-Gartz I, Bauer C, Janoschek R, Koxholt I, Mahabir E, Appel S, Alejandre Alcazar MA, Grossmann N, Vohlen C, Brockmeier K, Dotsch J, Hucklenbruch-Rother E, and Graf C (2018). Exercise during pregnancy and its impact on mothers and offspring in humans and mice. J Dev Orig Health Dis 9, 63-76.
Heykants M, Scherb H, Michel G, and Mahabir E (2018). Influence of polygamous versus monogamous mating on embryo production in four different strains of mice after superovulatory treatment. Theriogenology 114, 85-94.
Macheleidt IF, Dalvi PS, Lim SY, Meemboor S, Meder L, Kasgen O, Muller M, Kleemann K, Wang L, Nurnberg P, Russeler V, Schafer SC, Mahabir E, Buttner R, and Odenthal M (2018). Preclinical studies reveal that LSD1 inhibition results in tumor growth arrest in lung adenocarcinoma independently of driver mutations. Mol Oncol 12, 1965-1979.
Mahabir E, Durand S, Henderson KS, and Hardy P (2018). Comparison of two prevalent individually ventilated caging systems for detection of murine infectious agents via exhaust air particles. Lab Anim10.1177/0023677218785929, 23677218785929.
Mahabir E, Volland R, Landsberger A, Manz S, Na E, Urban I, and Michel G (2018). Reproductive Performance after Unilateral or Bilateral Oviduct Transfer of 2-Cell Embryos in Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 57, 110-114.
Raspa M, Mahabir E, Paoletti R, Protti M, Mercolini L, Schiller P, and Scavizzi F (2018). Effects of oral d-aspartate on sperm quality in B6N mice. Theriogenology 121, 53-61.
Schroeder DC, Maul AC, Mahabir E, Koxholt I, Yan X, Padosch SA, Herff H, Bultmann-Mellin I, Sterner-Kock A, Annecke T, Hucho T, Bottiger BW, and Guschlbauer M (2018). Evaluation of small intestinal damage in a rat model of 6 Minutes cardiac arrest. BMC Anesthesiol 18, 61. Esther Mahabir-Brenner.
Oberste M, Grossheinrich N, Wunram HL, Graf JL, Ziemendorff A, Meinhardt A, Fricke O, Mahabir E, and Bender S (2018). Effects of a 6-week, whole-body vibration strength-training on depression symptoms, endocrinological and neurobiological parameters in adolescent inpatients experiencing a major depressive episode (the "Balancing Vibrations Study"): study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Trials 19, 347.
Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne & PI - Lab. of Comparative Medicine - CMMC Research Building
Head - Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) | RG Comparative Medicine
esther.mahabir-brenner[at]uni-koeln.de
show more…+49 221 478 89540
+49 221 478 3984
Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne & PI - Lab. of Comparative Medicine - CMMC Research Building
Robert-Koch-Str. 21
50931 Cologne