The gut forms a complex immunological barrier that plays a crucial role in maintaining health. This barrier consists of multiple layers and mechanisms that work synergistically to protect the body from pathogenic microorganisms while supporting a healthy gut flora.
The gut's immunological barrier is also essential for differentiating between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms and for tolerance to harmless bacterial communities and food components. Disruptions to this fine-tuned balance can lead to a variety of diseases, including allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory bowel disease. Overall, the complexity and importance of the immunological barrier in the gut demonstrates how critical it is to overall health and well-being.
Our research projects focus on the function and regulation of the immunological intestinal barrier. In numerous projects, we investigate the interactions between the microbiome and the immune system, with a particular focus on the role that the intestinal epithelium plays in mediating these interactions.