News
April 2024: Erasmus - scholar
We welcome Erasmus scholarship holder MPharm (University of Sassari, Sardinia) Antonio Demelas, who will work in the synthesis for five months.
March 2024: Doctoral student funded by the East African Community
Prof. Eliangiringa Kaale (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania), Prof. Imming and Dr. Vedaste Kagisha (University ofRwanda) are supervising a PhD on NIR and Raman spectroscopic methods for quality assurance of pharmaceuticals in East Africa.
February 2024:
Prof. Peter Imming and Dr. Aline Horling are co-authors of a publication in "nature" on ferroptosis
(www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06878-9)
Puplication in "nature" über Ferroptose
December 2023: DFG follow-up proposal by Dr. Adrian Richter approved
Dr. Adrian Richter's DFG proposal "Development of phenylalanine amides and piperidine-4-carboxamides with antibacterial activity against resistant mycobacteria - synthetic derivatization, antimycobacterial testing and pharmacokinetic characterization" was approved and includes a postdoctoral position for himself and a doctoral position in addition to material resources. The project will make use of collaborations with Prof. Elizabeth Campbell (The Rockefeller University, New York), Prof. Thomas Dick (Drug Discovery Center, Hackensack Meridian, Nutley) and Prof. Ludger Wessjohann (Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle).
September 2023: Publikation "Antibacterial and
Disinfecting Effects of Standardised Tea Extracts
on more than 100 clinical Isolates of Methicillin-
Resistant Staphylococcus aureus"
Authors:
Ruth Feilcke, Volker Bär, Prof. Constanze Wendt und Prof. Peter Imming
August: 2023: Symposium on "Novel Antimicrobial
Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective" at the
GUC in Cairo
Together with colleagues from the German University in Cairo (GUC), we are organizing a one-day symposium on "Novel Antimicrobial Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective" at the GUC in Cairo, followed by a tour of the Marcyrl Pharmaceutical Industries. Prof. Imming is also an examiner for doctoral defenses at the GUC. Working group member Rana Abdelaziz, who recently completed her doctorate in Halle, shows the working group the sights of her former city of study.
Dr. Adrian Richter, Prof. Peter Imming, Paul Robin Palme, Markus Lang, Lea Mann, Dr. Rana Abdelaziz
July 2023: Promotion sponsored by Bayer Bitterfeld GmbH
Jan-Niklas Löbner begins work on his doctorate on the "Quantitative determination of active ingredients using NIR and Raman spectroscopy".
The basis for this is a research contract between MLU (AG Imming) and Bayer Bitterfeld GmbH.
July 2023: Gordon Research Conference "Tuberculosis Drug Discovery and Development"
The Imming working group is represented with seven people and contributions at the one-week Gordon Research Conference "Tuberculosis Drug Discovery and Development" in Castelldefels (Spain) and with one person at the associated one-day Gordon Research Seminar. This conference is the world's most important conference on the development of anti-tuberculosis drugs.
May - July 2023:Guest Professor of the University of Minnesota, USA
From May 30 to July 4, Prof. Dr. Courtney Aldrich from the School of Pharmacy will be a visiting professor at MLU at the invitation of Prof. Imming. In addition to research work in the laboratory, he will give lectures on green chemistry and his research as well as lectures and seminars for pharmacy students.He is internationally known for his work on anti-tuberculosis agents and is Editor-in-Chief of the journal ACS Infectious Diseases.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
May 2023: Publikation "Imidazopyridine Amides: Synthesis, Mycobacterium smegmatis
CIII2CIV2 Supercomplex Binding, and In Vitro Antimycobacterial Activity."
First author: Rana Abdelaziz. The work is based on a collaboration with the laboratory of John Rubinstein, Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
November 2022:
We congratulate Kevin Frenkel for the prize for the best diploma thesis, donated by Serumwerk Bernburg AG. The title of the thesis is: "NIR and Raman spectroscopy as an at-line method for determining the degree of calcination of sodium hydrogen carbonate in the fluidized bed process". It resulted in a publication in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis (DOI:
10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114918).
Dr. Christoph Huschka, Serumwerk Bernburg, Herr Frenkel und Prof. Imming. Bildquelle: privat (K. Frenkel)
September 2022: Prof. Imming co-organized African-German workshop on Drug Lifecycle Management
When we think of drugs, we primarily think of their therapeutic use. This is certainly the focus, but it is only a small part of the drug's "life cycle. Drugs and medicinal substances must be developed, produced and formulated with excipients, while meeting the requirements of the regulatory authorities.
After therapeutic use, drug substances and metabolites are excreted, and in some cases they have effects on the environment - on microorganisms, plants animals and humans. Expired drugs must therefore be disposed of properly. This holistic picture of the drug, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, was the focus of a workshop held in September 2022 in Arusha (Tanzania). It was financially facilitated by the Volkswagen Foundation and brought together more than 30 experts working in universities, government agencies, control laboratories, hospital pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. The participants were mostly from Africa: Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania.
The presentations and results of the workshop, as well as communications in professional journals, are collected at www.ufz.de/med4africa.
June 2022: Konference "Focus on Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
The Imming working group is represented with seven people and contributions at the conference "Focus on Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)" (31.5.-3.6.2022) at the University of Colorado, Fort Collins, USA. Working group member Markus Lang wins a poster prize. Afterwards, the working group spent a team-building retreat in the nearby Colorado Rocky Mountains National Park. There we evaluated what we had heard at the conference with regard to our research work.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Dr. Adrian Richter, Paul Robin Palme, Markus Lang, Prof. Peter Imming, Lea Mann, Dr. Rana Abdelaziz, Dr. Andreas Beuchel
May 2022: Press release of Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg on the successful funding application of Dr. Adrian Richter
Mukoviszidose e.V. will fund a new project in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry (Dr. Richter) at our institute starting in 2022. The research project named "Characterisation of new RNA polymerase and gyrase B inhibitors against Mycobacterium abscessus under CF-relevant assay conditions" deals with the development of antibacterial substances against resistant germs that can cause severe lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
Kampf gegen hartnäckige Bakterien: Pharmazeuten der Uni Halle suchen neue Wirkstoffe (uni-halle.de)
The front cover of ChemMedChem 6/2022 shows a synthetic step and example molecule of one of the most toxic compounds against the single most lethal bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, depicted microscopically in human macrophages and macroscopically on a culture plate. The beauty of the bacterial colonies is deceptive as it causes the White Plague aka Consumption aka Tuberculosis. The molecule is a benzothiazinone (BTZ), a substance class first published as strongly antimycobacterial in 2009. The article by us in this issue focusses on a new synthetic pathway to BTZs. The photography of the mycobacterial colony was provided by Prof. Yossef Av-Gay, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, one of the paper's authors. The microscopic picture was taken by Dr Adrian Richter in our lab. For more information, see the paper at doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202100733.
December 2021: Press release: Traditional medicinal plant alleviates malaria symptoms
July 2021: Presentation of more in-depth findings on the synthesis of the substance class
Based on the thesis work on "Synthesis and characterization of new derivatives of MMV688845 with activity against non-tuberculous mycobacteria" (Lea Mann, 2020), we are pleased to present deeper insights into the synthesis of the compound class. The manuscript "Racemization-free synthesis of Nα-2-thiophenoyl-phenylalanine-2-morpholinoanilide enantiomers and their antimycobacterial activity" appears in Amino Acids (Springer Verlag). We sincerely thank all the participants for the fruitful collaborations.
L. Mann, M. Lang, P. Schulze, J. H. Halz, R. Csuk, S. Hoenke, R. W. Seidel, A. Richter. Racemization-free synthesis of Nα-2-thiophenoyl-phenylalanine-2-morpholinoanilide enantiomers and their antimycobacterial activity. Amino Acids. 2021
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-021-03044-1
May 2020: Publication on antiinfective cyclopeptides
Congratulations to Dr Henok Asfaw - presently postdoc in Canada - to the third paper resulting from his PhD work. It resulted from a collaboration with Prof. Dr. Katja Becker (Uni Giessen and DFG) and GlaxoSmithKline's OpenLab: "Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimycobacterial and Antiplasmodial Activities of Hirsutellide A and its Analogs" (ACS Omega, accepted).
April 2020: Andreas Beuchel analyses bactericidal growth inhibitor of Mycobacterium abscessus at the Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey, USA
Andreas Beuchel is back from his four-month research stay with Prof. Dr. Thomas Dick at the Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey, USA. In the course of his synthesitic work at MLU Halle, Andreas had prepared the currently most effective (in vitro) bactericidal growth inhibitor of Mycobacterium abscessus. He characterised this molecule and several analogues he had synthesised extensively to determine their efficacy at the molecular target, through in vitro methods and in animal models at the Center for Discovery and Innovation. A publication about this subject was submitted with Andreas as co-first author.
February 2020: Field study in Botswana and cooperation with the University of Botswana
At the invitation of Prof. Dr. Andrä-Marobela (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana), Prof. Imming participated at a field study during which traditional medicinal plants were collected near Maun, Sehithla and Shakawe (northwestern Botswana). The plants and their usage were identified during interviews and a workshop conducted jointly with native healer organisations. Prof. Dr. Barbara Ngwenya (anthropologist) and Mr. Joseph Madome (botanist) from the University of Botswana also participated in the trip and study. As a direct result, about 30 plant species were newly included in the current search for anti-HIV and antimycobacterial effects.
Immediately after, Prof. Imming conducted a small field study near Gaborone with Dr. Marks Ditlhogo (ecologist) and Mr. Bongani Sethebe (botanist) from the University of Botswana to identify plants with anthelmintic effects.
The stay in Gaborone initiated a cooperation with the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Botswana which was founded two years ago. A scientific cooperation and prospective exchanges at teacher, graduate and undergraduate levels were envisioned as beneficial for both faculties. A faculty-agreement is presently being prepared.
January 2020: guest lecture and cooperation talks at Forschungszentrum Borstel - Leibniz Lungenzentrum
Dr. Richter, Mr. Lang and Prof. Imming were invited to the Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Lung Center. Dr. Richter gave a lecture on "Assay development and lead compound optimization targeting Mycobacterium abscessus". Talks on cooperation were held with Prof. Dr. Florian Maurer, head of diagnostical mycobacteriology, PD Dr. Norbert Reiling, head of the research group microbial biology of interfaces, and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schaible, program director of infections.
January 2020
Prof. Imming visits Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius as a member of a DAAD selection committee.
January 2020: Industry contacts
The research group of Pharmaceutical Chemistry visits the Serumwerk Bernburg AG, meeting with Dr. Christoph Huschka, head of production.
Dr. Heiko Michael, Head QC operations, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Barleben gives a guest lecture on "Methods and strategies of quality control in the pharmaceutical industry".
November 2019: Prof. Dr. Eliangiringa Kaale as a guest in Halle
We welcome Prof. Dr. Eliangiringa Kaale, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania. He delivers a guest lecture on "Challenges to establish laboratories for medicine quality control in low- and middle-income countries".
November 2019: Prof. Imming as a guest in Rumania
Erasmus Teaching Mobility: By invitation of the Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iași (Rumania), Prof. imming gives lectures on his research topics, the Institute of Pharmacy and the study programme of Pharmacy at MLU Halle. Complementary research topics and methods were identified.
November 2019: Congratulations to Ms. Dr. Lisa Lampp and Mr. Johannes Lang
Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Lampp for getting awarded with the second doctorate-prize of the Firma Bayer Bitterfeld GmbH and to Mr. Johannes Lang for getting awarded with the prize for the best diploma thesis, sponsored by the Serumwerk Bernburg.
Dr. David Bär (Bayer Bitterfeld),
Dr. Lisa Lampp,
Prof. Imming
Source: Jens Schlüter
Dr. Christoph Huschka (Serumwerk Berburg),
Herr Johannes Lang,
Prof. Imming
Source: Jens Schlüter
October 2019: Dr. Eman Dokla stays in Halle for six months
Dr. Eman Dokla, lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Ain-Shams-Universität Cairo (Egypt) visits the research group for six months to work on the project "Design and Synthesis of Small Heterocyclic Derivatives Targeting MRSA Infection" and to contribute to several projects towards the synthesis of active agents against Mycobacterium abscessus.
October 2019: Cooperation of the research group with the IZI Fraunhofer
The research group of Prof. Imming starts a cooperation with the IZI Fraunhofer (Halle) on assays and inhibitor testing for Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
September 2019: 4th Graduate School of the project Tri-Sustain
After Graduate Schools in the partner countries Tanzania, Ethiopia and Botswana, the 4th Graduate School of the Tri-Sustain-project (http://trisustain.uni-halle.de/) took place 16-24 September 2019 in Halle. The four-year project is headed by Prof. Imming. Main goal is to develop a scientific base for the preservation of African medicinal plants and sustainable cooperations with Sub-Saharan Africa. The Graduate School was opened by the Rector of the MLU, Prof. Dr. Christian Tietje. Furthermore, Dr. Karamba Diaby MdB, member of the education committee at the German Federal Parliament and Ms. Karin Essig, team leader for international projects of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), delivered keynote addresses at the opening event.
Both in theory and practical lab work the isolation of natural substances was taught at PhD level, including structure elucidation, construction and use of databases and the development of semi-solid plant-based dosage forms. Nine project-funded African PhD students plus researchers of the African partner universities, of the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Institute for Applied Dermatopharmacy and MLU's Univations GmbH actively participated in the Graduate Schools and the Tri-Sustain project.
July/ August 2019: 65. World Congress der International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) in Kigali
The 65th World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) in Kigali (Rwanda) focussed on the topic "Striving towards Health for All: Exploring Innovations in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences". More than 300 pharmacy students, pharmacists in training and pharmacists from over 40 countries from all over the world participated in the congress. Prof. Imming was invited to give lectures on "Bacterial resistance and how to prevent and overcome it" and "Rwandan-German PhD DAAD Programs in Germany". He also participated in a panel discussion on the topic "Paving the way towards Universal Health Coverage through Young Professionals". The panel was moderated by one of the organising Rwandan pharmacy students (left) and included a representative of the Rwandan Ministry of Health, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda (Prof. Philip Cotton, a physician) and a representative of the FIP Young Pharmacists Group.
IPSF Congress, Photo: private