Skip to content

Dortmund, 1st April 2022

Bei Kaja Reifferts Forschung spielen Bakterien wie Escherichia coli (E. coli) eine wichtige Rolle. Die Nachwuchswissenschaftlerin beobachtet unter anderem die Entwicklung der von ihr kultivierten und behandelten Bakterienstämme.
© ISAS

Bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) play an important role in Kaja Reiffert’s research. The young scientist monitors the development of the bacterial strains she has cultivated and treated.

Kaja Reiffert (24) is a doctoral student in the Bioimaging working group. In her dissertation, she studies the effects of ultra-small silver nanoparticles on the human body. In order to learn more about her work in the lab, the editorial team asked Kaja to finish the following sentences.

  • At ISAS I am working on…

    investigating the influence of ultra-small metallic nanoparticles (1-2 nm small) on eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Eurkaryotes are, for example, fungi, animals or plants. Bacteria are prokaryotes.

  • This research question is important because…

    nanoparticles could potentially prevent bacterial infection in connection with implants in the clinic.

  • My theory is…

    that ultra-small silver nanoparticles show an enhanced antimicrobial effect, but also cytotoxic activity. This means there is a chance that they kill bacteria, but damage our cells at the same time. I want to find out whether I can modulate this ‘toxic’ activity through a combination of different metals and thus adjust it to eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

  • The equipment I use most in the lab is…

    the confocal microscope for my analysis of fluorescence-marked nanoparticles.

  • My experiments are…

    amongst others, so-called vitality assays, the cultivation of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells as well as analyses with microscopes and a flow cytometer. I am always planning new experiments.

  • My highlight every day is…

    to be able to look back on a productive and eventful day.

Kaja Reiffert is doing her PhD at the University of Duisburg-Essen. The title of her dissertation is "Ultra-small Mono- and Bi-metallic Nanoparticles as a Possible Prevention Strategy of Implant-associated Infections" (Ultrakleine mono- und bimetallische Nanopartikel als mögliche Präventionsstrategie Implantat-assoziierter Infektionen). Her work contributes to the research project "Synthesis, structure, and biological effects of ultrasmall (1-2 nm) bimetallic silver-platinum nanoparticles". The German Research Association (DFG) funds the project under the number 452179459.

Share

Further articles

Four Perspectives on a Shared Discovery

Although CD177⁺ and CD177⁻ neutrophils look identical under the microscope, they are in fact not the same. Four of the authors of “CD177 Deficiency Defines a Stable Subtype of Human Neutrophil Granulocytes with Tumour-Promoting Activity” (Advanced Science) explain how they identified the functional differences between these immune cells and which combined analytical methods made their discovery possible in the first place. This insight into their research demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can reveal previously undiscovered information.

Das Foto zeigt im oberen Teil Porträts von vier Wissenschaftlern. Von links nach rechts: Prof. Dr. Matthias Gunzer, Prof. Dr. Jianxu Chen, Dr. Belal Alshaar, Prof. Dr. Albert Sickmann. Im Teil unter den Porträts sind Mikroskopaufnahmen von CD177-definierten Neutrophilen zu sehen.

3 Questions for Neele Rottmann

In the lab, Neele Rottmann prepares human and animal samples for mass spectrometry analysis. As part of the HI-FIVE project, she is helping to identify changes at the protein level in heart failure. Why does she spend so much time in the lab working on separations? The technical assistant shares the answer in this interview.

Neele Rottmann is wearing a white lab coat and purple gloves and is operating a mass spectrometry analyser in a laboratory. Next to her is a liquid chromatography system connected to a mass spectrometer via several tubes. There are numerous sample vials on the instrument. As she places a sample into the system, she looks into the camera.

High-tech against Cardiovascular Diseases: 3D Images of Blood Vessels

How do atherosclerotic plaques form in the coronary arteries? At ISAS, researchers are investigating cellular changes in human coronary arteries using techniques such as 3D imaging. During her internship, early-career researcher Leonie Menzel used a light sheet fluorescence microscope to analyse the spatial distribution of individual cells within the tissue. She thereby gained valuable methodological experience for her Master’s thesis.

3 Questions for Lukas Fu

How can AI support the analysis of biomedical images? This was the question Lukas Fu explored during his school internship at ISAS. The 15-year-old also successfully completed his first programming project.

Lukas Fu, a 15-year-old with short black hair. He is wearing glasses and is sitting on a low wall.

Separating Fluorescence Signals Faster and More Precisely with AI

When different fluorescence signals overlap during microscopy, their clear assignment to specific biological structures becomes difficult. To address this common problem, Dr Davide Panzeri is developing AI-based signal separation methods. The biophysicist has been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship by the European Union for his promising research project.

Porträt Dr. Davide Panzeri.

Passionate Research, Shaping the Future

How do GRK5 inhibitors work at the cellular level and within the living organism? Biologist Dr Susanne Grund is working with her colleagues at HI-FIVE on a new therapeutic approach for heart failure. In this portrait, she describes what her day-to-day work looks like, balancing research on human stem cells with studies on mice.

ISAS BFF Uploader

What are you doing at ISAS, Theresa?

Why do mice undergo ultrasound examinations of their hearts? What does a typical working day in the lab involve for a technical assistant in the HI-FIVE research project ? And what challenges does the job present? Theresa Pietz provides fascinating insights into her duties, motivations and experiences working with animals.

Study with Heart: A Doctor Bridging Clinic & Laboratory

What is actually happening behind the scenes of a patient trial? Anna Ruzhyna is a clinical research associate who looks after participants with heart failure as part of the HI-FIVE project. She explains how her work helps to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of heart failure.