We seek to understand the mechanisms of immune-microbe interactions early in life by studying microbial metabolites and their role in this cross-talk, the mechanisms of microbial sensing and the types of immune responses elicited against commensal microbes in human children.

The first months after birth represent a particularly dynamic period during immune system development when immune cells encounter colonising microbes and food components, but also pathogens for the first time. The immune systems must allow the establishment of a symbiotic microbiome while simultaneously protecting from infections by pathogens.

We seek to better understand human immune-mediated diseases and immune dysregulation by applying new experimental and computational technologies to the study of rare, and well-curated samples from pediatric patients.