Jedes Jahr kommen in Deutschland Tausende Babys viele Wochen zu früh auf die Welt und müssen sich oft monatelang ins Leben kämpfen. Je früher die Babys geboren sind, desto höher ist das Risiko für lebensgefährliche Komplikationen. Infektionen können zu einer Sepsis führen und gehören zu den häufigsten Todesursachen.

„Vor allem bei den ganz kleinen Frühchen kann eine bakterielle Infektion innerhalb von Stunden zum Tod führen“, sagt der LMU-Mediziner Prof. Markus Sperandio. Der Physiologie und ehemalige Kinderarzt und Frühgeborenenmediziner erforscht mit seinem Team am Biomedizinischen Centrum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) die Ursachen dieser hohen Infektionsanfälligkeit. Die Forschenden konnten nun nachweisen, dass ein immunstimulierender Signalweg im sich entwickelnden Immunsystem gehemmt ist.

Not yet ready for this world: Every year, thousands of babies in Germany are born many weeks too early and often have to struggle for months. Their chances of survival have continuously improved over recent decades. Hardly any infant born before the 28th week of pregnancy survived just a few decades ago, whereas babies are now considered potentially viable from the 23rd week on. However, there is a high risk of infections with life-threatening complications, and sepsis is one of the most common causes of death.

“The threat of infection is particularly high in very small premature babies,” says LMU physician Prof. Markus Sperandio. “For them, a bacterial infection can lead to death within hours. For this reason, they often have to be treated with antibiotics.” Before switching to a career in research, the physiologist and former pediatrician and neonatologist worked at Heidelberg Children’s Hospital for eight years. During that time, he often was confronted with the susceptibility of premature babies to infection and this problem never left his mind ever since. As such, it is no coincidence that he and his team are investigating precisely this subject at LMU’s Biomedical Center.