Mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction during chronic infection, inflammation, and carcinogenesis
Gerhard group / Mejías-Luque group 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 modeling. 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 the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.
*This content is available in English only*
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
- https://mih.mh.tum.de/de/h-pylori-interaction-ceacam-receptors