Research group Group Sverremark-Ekström
We study host-microbe interactions and mechanisms that influence immune characteristics and functionality.
Group description
Our immune system gradually matures during the first year(s) of life under the influence of various environmental exposures. A prominent environmental factor in this context, is the gut microbiota. The molecular interactions between the early microbiota and the host promote immune development and maturation. Disturbances during this early process generating microbial deprivation/deviation, could result in poor infant immune maturation and/or altered immune balance, with an increased risk of immune-mediated disease later in life.
Our main research goals are to understand biological mechanisms behind (gut) microbe-induced immune modulation. We investigate different mechanisms in the gut microbe-host cross-talk, including detailed analyses of exposed immune cells at DNA, RNA and protein levels but also which microbial factors that are involved. Further, we examine how these early events contribute to the development of immune mediated diseases like allergy and how immunotherapy influence the gut-immune interactions. We also aim to understand how the microbiota contributes to chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity as well as to the recovery of immune functions after cancer treatment. We perform cellular and molecular experimental studies in vitro, complemented by in vivo studies and work with human clinical samples.
Group members
Group managers
Eva Sverremark Ekström
Professor
Members
Karolina Bucaro Stenman
PhD Student
Symeon Kourmoulakis
Doktorand
Sevasti Telli
Student
Pilar López Hernández
PhD student
Claudia Arasa Cuartiella
PhD student
Gintare Lasaviciute
Postdoc
Isabella Badolati
PhD student
Manuel Mata Forsberg
Researcher
Qasi Khaleda Rahman
Forskare
Ymke de Jong
PhD student
