Microbiota-specific CD4 T cell memory
Memory T cells are critical components of vaccine-induced protection from infection, yet it has remained elusive whether non-pathogenic gut commensals also induce T cell memory. In this project funded by an ERC & SNSF Starting Grant, we combine novel models of transient colonisation of germ-free mice by prototypic gut commensals with cutting-edge immunological tools to try and understand whether non-pathogenic gut bacteria induce long-lived tissue-resident CD4 T cell memory.
Transcriptional recording sentinel cells as living diagnostics of the human gastrointestinal tract
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disorder that may affect any segment of the intestinal tract. Diagnosis and treatment could be improved through biomarkers from affected areas but these are poorly accessible. As intestinal bacteria react quickly to environmental changes, they may be used as sentinels reporting on the intestinal milieu. For this, specialized sentinel bacteria have been engineered that report on changes in the gut environment. In this pilot project funded by the Bern Center for Precision Medicine, we aim to lay the foundation for using sentinel bacteria as a novel precision medicine approach in Crohn’s disease diagnosis.
