Mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction during chronic infection, inflammation and carcinogenesis
AG Gerhard / AG Mejías-Luque 2026
Group leaders
The Gerhard and Mejías-Luque groups investigate how chronic bacterial infection shapes mucosal immunity, epithelial signaling and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Our work focuses on Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric cancer prevention, inflammation-associated colorectal cancer, host–pathogen adhesion, antimicrobial resistance and organoid-based disease modelling. By combining infection biology, mucosal immunology, cancer biology, clinical cohorts, biobanking and translational technology platforms, we aim to identify mechanisms, biomarkers and interventions that can improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Research Projects
Characterization of immune and epithelial cell responses to Helicobacter pylori infection
- Characterization of CD8+T cell responses during H. pylori infection
- Characterization of regulatory T cells during H. pylori infection and gastric cancer development and progression
- Helicobacter infection and microbiota-dependent colonic inflammation and pathogenesis
- H. pylori interaction with CEACAM receptors
Vaccine development against H. pylori
H. pylori antibiotic resistance
Links to our group and publications