Histological examination of tissue pneumonia

Dynamics of Respiratory Infections

Several chronic inflammatory diseases of the lung have been recently associated with alterations in the composition of the airway microbiome. Moreover, the lung microbiota can be classified according to its predominance either of proinflammatory bacteria, such as strains from the genera Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Haemophilus or of low-stimulatory bacteria from genera like Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Veillonella. Moreover, it is already known that the commensal lung microbiota can influence host immune system activation by producing numerous structural ligands and metabolites such as lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, and secondary metabolites. However, the interaction between the lung microbiota and the airway epithelium, as well as their interactions with pulmonary pathogens, are not well understood.

Prof Dr med. Hortense Slevogt

Head

Prof Dr med. Hortense Slevogt
Head of Research Group

Our research

The research group “Dynamics of Respiratory Infections” (DINF) focuses on studying pathogen-host interactions in the respiratory tract, with a particular emphasis on bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as fungal pathogens of the lung, including Aspergillus species. Our research investigates receptor-mediated mechanisms by which these pathogens interact with the pulmonary epithelium and alveolar macrophages. Additionally, we analyze the role of non-pathogenic lung colonizers, which influence pathogen behavior and modulate the host’s innate immunity by altering immune signaling pathways.