Sucharit Bhakdi

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sucharit Bhakdi ( Thai สุจริต ภักดี [ sut̚˨˩.t͡ɕa˨˩.rit̚˨˩ pʰak̚˦˥.diː˧ ]; born November 1, 1946 in Washington, DC ) is a German specialist in microbiology , virology and infection epidemiology . He is professor emeritus at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and was head of the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene there from 1991 to 2012 .

Life and career

Bhakdi is the son of Thai parents in the diplomatic service. His mother, who studied at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, got him interested in medicine at an early age.

From 1963 to 1970 he studied human medicine at the University of Bonn , from 1966 to 1970 as a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service . For a while, Bhakdi worked as a private assistant to the internist Walter Siegenthaler . In February 1971 he was promoted to Dr. med. PhD . From 1972 to 1974 he had a scholarship from the Max Planck Society at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology in Freiburg. From 1974 to 1976 he received a grant from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology in Freiburg.

After a one-year stay at the University of Copenhagen, he worked at the Institute for Medical Microbiology at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen from 1977 to 1990 . In July 1979 he completed his habilitation. He was appointed C2 professor in 1982 and C3 professor for medical microbiology in 1987 before he was appointed to the University of Mainz in 1990. From 1991 he headed the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene there as a C4 professor . On April 1, 2012, Bhakdi was retired. Since 2016 he has been researching as a visiting scholar at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel .

Memberships and functions

  • Member of the Collaborative Research Center of the German Research Foundation "Proteins as Tools in Biology" at the University of Giessen (1987–1990),
  • Deputy Speaker of the Collaborative Research Center " Immunopathogenesis " (1990–1999)
  • Speaker of the Collaborative Research Center 490 “Infection and Persistence in Infections” in Mainz (2000–2011).

Scientific work

In 1978 Bhakdi discovered the first protein that attacks and damages cells by sinking into the cell membrane with the resultant formation of a pore. It was the long-sought enforcer molecule of the complement system , which is formed on the surface of foreign cells as a result of a chain reaction of the immune system. With the subsequent discovery that bacteria themselves can also produce pore-forming proteins, a new field of research was opened. Today it is known that the vast majority of pathogenic bacteria produce pore formers that damage host cells. In 1984 Bhakdi was invited to present the concept of cell membrane damage by pore formers to the Royal Society in London . From then on, dealing with this topic remained a focus of his research activities.

Research on complement led Bhakdi to the area of atherosclerosis . In 1989 he discovered that this component of our immune system is mysteriously activated in the vessel walls where the low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the “bad” cholesterol) is deposited. The reason for this could be clarified and the subsequent work led Bhakdi to a new explanatory concept - the Mainz hypothesis - for the development of the widespread disease atherosclerosis.

He continued to make contributions to malaria and dengue fever research.

Viewpoints on the COVID-19 pandemic and criticism

Youtube

On March 18, 2020, Bhakdi set up his own YouTube channel and, in three videos published in quick succession, expressed himself critical of the data basis that formed the basis for the measures prescribed against the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany . He criticized the fact that the mass media often argued with the number of infected people without differentiating according to the severity of the symptoms, and that people are classified as "corona deaths" if they have a positive test result without determining the cause of death, even if multiple Previous illnesses suggested other causes. It is also methodologically incorrect to use the ratio of dead to infected people from the beginning of the epidemic in order to extrapolate more recent numbers of infected people to expected deaths.

He cited one reason for the relatively high death rates in the urban agglomerations of northern Italy and China that the high levels of air pollution there and the associated damage to the lungs intensified the effects of SARS-CoV-2. On March 26, 2020, Bhakdi wrote an open letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel that raised five questions and distributed it publicly on March 29, in which he addressed his “fellow citizens” as a fourth video similar to the Chancellor. His conclusion was that he classified the prescribed lock-down measures as a violation of fundamental rights.

With five videos on YouTube, Bhakdi reached almost 50,000 subscribers in six weeks and over 4 million views, more than half of which came from the presentation of the open letter to Chancellor Merkel. In April 2020 he gave an interview to the Austrian television broadcaster ServusTV . Also in April 2020, Bhakdi gave an interview to conspiracy ideologist Ken Jebsen . In this and other YouTube videos, according to Spiegel Online , he would make claims that contradict the general scientific consensus on the pandemic. According to the social psychologist Pia Lamberty , people like Bhakdi would not be classified as “conspiracy theorists per se”. But by making common with them, for example by having Bhakdi interviewed by Jebsen, they would give them the legitimacy of science.

Position paper of the BMI

In April / May 2020 Bhakdi was involved in the development of a position paper for an employee of the crisis management department of KM4 (Crisis Management and Civil Protection - Protection of Critical Infrastructures) of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior . The Federal Ministry distanced itself from the position paper as a "private opinion" circulating on official letterhead and released the chief government councilor Stephan Kohn from duty.

Non-fiction book Corona false alarm ?

In June 2020 Bhakdi published an e-book entitled Corona False Alarm? Numbers, dates and backgrounds , it was published as a printed paperback on June 21, 2020 by Goldegg Verlag and reached first place on the Spiegel bestseller list in the “Non-fiction paperback” category. His book Schreckgespenst Infections - Mythen, Wahn und Reality was published there in 2016 . He published both books together with his wife Karina Reiß , biologist and biochemist at the Quincke Research Center of the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel .

reception

Already on March 24th, the Mimikama association criticized under the title “Doctor trivializes coronavirus” that various statements in Bhakdi's first video are untenable. The fact that only 1% of those infected become ill and, in the worst case, 30 people per day die of COVID-19, contradicts the information provided by the RKI and the situation in Italy and Spain. A attribution of the higher death rates in Wuhan and Italy to air pollution or environmental influences is "not tenable". Bhakdi would "accordingly (...) find little echo in most of the media and government agencies and limit himself to YouTube." A statistical connection between air quality (particulate matter pollution) and Covid-19 death rates in the USA was, however, shown in a study at the beginning of April of Harvard University demonstrated how the ZDF wrote as an addendum to his "facts check" of 23 March later.

The MDR made Bhakdi's remarks on the subject of episode 15 The Statistical Birth Defect in the Covid-19 Case Numbers of his podcast Kekulé's Corona Compass with the doctor and biochemist Alexander S. Kekulé .

BR24 came to the conclusion in an article in the series Facts Fox from April 1st, updated on April 3rd, to the conclusion: “Bhakdi asks (...) questions, some of which are also discussed among researchers. The estimation of the so-called number of unreported cases (...) for example or the question of (the) lethality (...) if one does not differentiate between 'on' and 'with' COVID-19. The assumptions (...) suggest that the danger (...) is being overestimated and primarily refer to data gaps. Researchers emphasize: The gaps in the data are no reason to give the all-clear. "

The German-language website of the Medical Tribune states that the "overwhelming majority of experts" view Bhakdi's theses on COVID-19 as unscientific.

In addition, further fact checks dealt critically with Bhakdi's statements, for example at dpa , swr3 or correctiv.org . On the basis of fact checks by Correctiv, ZDF, die Welt, Spiegel and Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Süddeutsche Zeitung summed up: "What Wodarg and Bhakdi say is not completely wrong, but they mix facts with speculation and disinformation."

The publication Corona False Alarm was also largely received critically by the media and in specialist science.

Publications

Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Sucharit Bhakdi (Punyarataband) .
  2. ↑ Sucharit Bhakdi. In: goldegg-verlag.com. Goldegg Verlag , accessed on March 28, 2020.
  3. ↑ a b Weltwoche: «Dangerous seductions». Retrieved May 14, 2020 .
  4. ↑ dg: New to us. (PDF) Um.Sicht, September 2013, p. 18 , accessed on October 15, 2014 .
  5. ↑ "Opinions on the Edge of the Mainstream". In: Pharmaceutical newspaper. March 30, 2020, accessed August 9, 2020 .
  6. ↑ Wulf Rohwedder: Two kinds of measure at "Corona Rebellen" , tagesschau.de, June 30, 2020, last updated on August 10, 2020, accessed on August 26, 2020.
  7. ↑ Karen Schwenke: "We want to stimulate thinking" - two Kiel researchers oppose all recognized corona experts. Your book is a bestseller. Interview in the Kieler Nachrichten , August 8, 2020; Online version from August 10, 2020 only available behind a paywall .
  8. ↑ Yesterday scholarship holder - and today? Sucharit Bhakdi - Head of the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. In: DAAD, 2006 (archive).
  9. ^ S. Bhakdi, J. Tranum-Jensen: Molecular nature of the complement lesion . In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . tape 75 , no. November 11 , 1978, ISSN  0027-8424 , p. 5655-5659 , doi : 10.1073 / pnas.75.11.5655 , PMID 281714 .
  10. ↑ R. Füssle, p Bhakdi, A. Sziegoleit, J. Tranum-Jensen, T. Kranz: On the mechanism of membrane damage by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin . In: The Journal of Cell Biology . tape 91 , no. 1 , October 1981, ISSN  0021-9525 , pp. 83-94 , doi : 10.1083 / jcb.91.1.83 , PMID 6271794 , PMC 2111936 (free full text).
  11. ^ S. Bhakdi, J. Tranum-Jensen, CA Pasternak, KJ Micklem, Rodney Robert Porter: Mechanism of complement cytolysis and the concept of channel-forming proteins . In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences . tape 306 , no. 1129 , September 6, 1984, pp. 311-324 , doi : 10.1098 / rstb.1984.0092 .
  12. ^ S. Bhakdi, J. Tranum-Jensen: Damage to mammalian cells by proteins that form transmembrane pores . In: Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology . tape 107 , 1987, ISSN  0303-4240 , pp. 147-223 , doi : 10.1007 / bfb0027646 , PMID 3303271 .
  13. ↑ PS Seifert, F. Hugo, GK Hansson, S. Bhakdi: Perilesional complement activation in experimental atherosclerosis. Terminal C5b-9 complement deposition coincides with cholesterol accumulation in the aortic intima of hypercholesterolemic rabbits . In: Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology . tape 60 , no. 6 , June 1989, ISSN  0023-6837 , pp. 747-754 , PMID 2659887 .
  14. ↑ S. Bhakdi, B. Dorweiler, R. Kirchmann, J. Torzewski, E. Weise: On the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: enzymatic transformation of human low density lipoprotein to an atherogenic moiety . In: The Journal of Experimental Medicine . tape 182 , no. 6 , December 1, 1995, ISSN  0022-1007 , p. 1959–1971 , doi : 10.1084 / jem.182.6.1959 , PMID 7500042 , PMC 2192243 (free full text).
  15. ↑ Michael Torzewski, Sucharit Bhakdi: Complement and atherosclerosis-united to the point of no return? In: Clinical Biochemistry . tape 46 , no. 1-2 , January 2013, ISSN  1873-2933 , pp. 20-25 , doi : 10.1016 / j.clinbiochem.2012.09.012 , PMID 23010447 .
  16. ↑ Panisadee Avirutnan, Nuntaya Punyadee, Sansanee Noisakran, Chulaluk Komoltri, Somchai Thiemmeca: Vascular leakage in severe dengue virus infections: a potential role for the nonstructural viral protein NS1 and complement . In: The Journal of Infectious Diseases . tape 193 , no. 8 , April 15, 2006, ISSN  0022-1899 , p. 1078-1088 , doi : 10.1086 / 500949 , PMID 16544248 .
  17. ↑ Prasad Dasari, Karina Reiss, Klaus Lingelbach, Stefan Baumeister, Ralph Lucius: Digestive vacuoles of Plasmodium falciparum are selectively phagocytosed by and impair killing function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . In: Blood . tape 118 , no. 18 , November 3, 2011, ISSN  1528-0020 , p. 4946-4956 , doi : 10.1182 / blood-2011-05-353920 , PMID 21911835 .
  18. ↑ Prasad Dasari, Sophia D. Heber, Maike Beisele, Michael Torzewski, Kurt Reifenberg: Digestive vacuole of Plasmodium falciparum released during erythrocyte rupture dually activates complement and coagulation . In: Blood . tape 119 , no. 18 , May 3, 2012, ISSN  1528-0020 , p. 4301-4310 , doi : 10.1182 / blood-2011-11-392134 , PMID 22403252 .
  19. ↑ Prasad Dasari, Anja Fries, Sophia D. Heber, Abdulgabar Salama, Igor-Wolfgang Blau: Malarial anemia: digestive vacuole of Plasmodium falciparum mediates complement deposition on bystander cells to provoke hemophagocytosis . In: Medical Microbiology and Immunology . tape 203 , no. 6 , December 2014, ISSN  1432-1831 , p. 383-393 , doi : 10.1007 / s00430-014-0347-0 , PMID 24985035 .
  20. ↑ a b Prof. Dr. med. Sucharit Bhakdi. Channel info that joined on March 18, 2020 and over 4 million views. YouTube , accessed April 23, 2020 .
  21. ↑ a b c Prof. Dr. med. Sucharit Bhakdi. Video list with Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi explains why the measures are pointless and self-destructive from March 19 and further. YouTube , accessed April 23, 2020 .
  22. ↑ Video: Corona crisis: Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi explains why the measures are pointless and self-destructive. Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
  23. ↑ Open letter of March 26, 2020 (PDF, archive)
  24. ↑ Talk special with Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi: Corona madness without end? In: Hello TV. Accessed April 30, 2020 .
  25. ↑ SWR3: Video in the fact check: Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi criticizes Corona measures , from May 22, 2020
  26. ^ Spiegel Online: How Kayvan Soufi-Siavash became the conspiracy ideologist Ken Jebsen , June 17, 2020
  27. ^ Spiegel Online : Corona videos on YouTube. Behind the Conspiracy , May 21, 2020
  28. ↑ Julia Sextl: Explosive Corona paper: Was it all right? Evening newspaper , May 13, 2020 .;
  29. ↑ Stephan Kohn : KM4 Analysis of Crisis Management (short version). (PDF) Stephan Kohn / Abendzeitung, 2020 .;
  30. ↑ Joint press release by the experts on the Corona paper from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. (PDF) Sucharit Bhakdi, Gunter Frank, Gunnar Heinsohn, Stefan W. Hockertz, Karina Reiss, Peter Schirmacher, Andreas Sönnichsen, Till Uebel, Harald Walach / Abendzeitung, May 11, 2020 .;
  31. ↑ Benjamin Reuter: How the alleged Corona secret report in the Ministry of the Interior was created. Der Tagesspiegel, May 14, 2020, accessed on May 16, 2020 .
  32. ↑ Corona false positive? Numbers, dates and backgrounds. Goldegg Verlag , accessed on June 9, 2020 .
  33. ↑ book report. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  34. ↑ The bugbear of infections - myths, delusions and reality. Goldegg Verlag , accessed on June 9, 2020 .
  35. ↑ www.uni-kiel.de .
  36. ↑ Tom Wannenmacher: Doctor plays down the coronavirus. In: Mimikama . March 24, 2020, accessed April 23, 2020 .
  37. ↑ Xiao Wu, Rachel C. Nethery, Benjamin M. Sabath, Danielle Braun, Francesca Dominici: Exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States: A nationwide cross-sectional , April 2020; doi: 10.1101 / 2020.04.05.20054502
  38. ↑ Nils Metzger: Why Sucharit Bhakdi's numbers are wrong. added / corrected on April 14 and May 11, 2020. ZDF , March 23, 2020, accessed on July 8, 2020 .
  39. ↑ Kekulé's Corona Compass # 15: The statistical birth defect of the Covid 19 case numbers. Camillo Schumann in conversation with Alexander S. Kekulé . MDR , April 1, 2020, accessed April 3, 2020 .
  40. ↑ Bhakdi's letter to the Chancellor - What is the truth of his questions? BR24 , April 1, 2020, accessed April 2, 2020 .
  41. ↑ When doctors speak of the corona crisis as a "criminal staging". Medical Tribune online July 22, 2020, accessed August 30, 2020
  42. ↑ dpa fact check , March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  43. ↑ swr3 fact check , April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020
  44. ↑ Kathrin Wesolowski: Evaluation: unproven vaccination against Covid-19 "senseless"? Sucharit Bhakdi makes unsubstantiated claims. In: correctiv.org. June 19, 2020, accessed June 20, 2020 .
  45. ↑ False Corona reports reach an audience of millions , April 10, 2020. Accessed on April 28, 2020.
  46. ↑ Comments on the publication "Corona false alarm?" August 29, 2020, accessed on August 30, 2020 (German).
  47. ↑ List of the winners of the Gay Lussac Humboldt Prize (PDF; 82 kB)
  48. ↑ Mainz university professor Sucharit Bhakdi is awarded the Aronson Prize 2001 .
  49. ↑ Sucharit Bhakdi, MD (No longer available online.) University of Mainz, archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on October 15, 2014 .
  50. ↑ Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: Mainz physician Bhakdi awarded for hypothesis on the development of atherosclerosis. April 20, 2009, accessed April 16, 2018 .
  51. ^ Deutsches Ärzteblatt : Names and Messages . ( aerzteblatt.de [accessed on April 16, 2018]).
personal data
SURNAME Bhakdi, Sucharit
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German medic
DATE OF BIRTH November 1, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH Washington, DC