Pathogenesis Icon

Pathogenesis

Many microbes exploit their hosts to obtain essential nutrients for their own propagation. The ability of pathogens to detect host receptors is a pivotal issue which decides their host range. Some microbes do not cause clinically evident diseases in hosts, but some of them develop chronic and acute diseases that lead to mortality.
Pathogenesis Icon
Image: common

The emphasis of this pathogenesis session is placed on

  • the comprehension of the concepts of microbial pathogenicity and virulence that cause infectious diseases.
  • the understanding of molecular signals and complex virulence systems that microbes opt for to parasitize and cause damage to host immunity.
  • the provision of an overview of the host response to pathogen invasion and epidemiology.

Dr. Corinne Benakis - Institute for Stroke and Dementia, Ludwig Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany

Corinne Benakis

Image: common

Independent group leader, Institute for Stroke and Dementia (ISD), Ludwig Maximilians-University of Munich (LMU), Germany

The research focus of the lab is to understand the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the brain in experimental model of stroke. The gut microbiome has been reproducibly demonstrated to play a pivotal role in brain health and disease. Recent experimental and clinical studies from ours and others have shown that stroke outcome is substantially impacted by the composition of the gut microbiome, which acts as a key modulator of immunity and metabolism.

Importantly, gut-to-brain communication may occur through the production of metabolites from gut-resident bacteria. Indeed, there is accumulating evidence showing that metabolites derived from the microbiome influence brain diseases by regulating intestinal immune-cell function. The key objective of our research group is to investigate whether metabolites produced by gut bacteria can influence stroke-induced neuroinflammation. This research paradigm will enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve recovery in stroke patients.

- click hereExternal link for lab website - 

Prof. Dr. Pascale Vonaesch - University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Pascale Vonasch

Image: Pascale Vonasch

Assistant Professor at the University of Lausanne 
Department of Fundamental Microbiology 

The group of Prof. Dr. Vonaesch is studying one of the most important public health threats: undernutrition. They focus on the microbiota and gut ecosystem to understand the impact of malnutrition and its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. With clinical and translational projects in Ethiopia, Lao, Central African Republic and Madagascar they aim to get a broader picture of the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of malnutrition. With the knowledge they gather, they hope to develop new ways of therapies and treatments, to fight diseases like chronic inflammatory syndrome of the small intestine and with it undernutrition. In general, they aim to provide more knowledge regarding the linkages between microbiota, gut health, infection and nutrition.

- click hereExternal link for lab website - 

Go to: