Sepsis is so dangerous because it is so difficult to diagnose. Often it is diagnosed far too late. But even the subsequent course of blood poisoning is not easy to control. Suitable diagnostic methods are missing. Microbiologists in Giessen are combating this problem, which is why they are studying the genes in the blood cells of sepsis patients.

"The cell reacts to a situation by for example switching on certain genes and switching off certain others. Thus, gene activity can reflect the momentary condition of the cell," Dr. Hamid Hossain explains. Together with his team, he is working on a biochip which will contain just this information.

"Our hope is that by using this biochip, doctors will be able to detect the disease four or five days prior to the septic condition. Then there would be enough time for effective treatment," Hamid Hossain adds. However, the NGFN scientists are not only concerned with the early stages of the disease. They are also decoding an activity pattern which is characteristic for the last lethal phase of sepsis. Using this pattern, they want to understand the molecular basis of the disease – and thus create the preconditions for new therapeutic approaches.