Understanding infection and pathogenesis from the epithelial point of view
The forefront of the gastrointestinal mucosa consists mainly of a continuous polarized epithelial monolayer, protected by mucus. This strong defense barrier can be colonized by pathogens that trigger acute and chronic inflammation. This exceptional colonization ability is associated with an increased risk of developing adenocarcinomas at the sites of infection. Indeed epidemiological studies have described a strong correlation between the chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer as well as a correlation between Salmonella enterica carriage and the onset of gallbladder cancer. Considering the epithelium as center court for infection, inflammation and cancer we have regenerated the epithelial monolayers of the gallbladder and of the human gastric mucosa in vitro. The infection of these human primary cell models reveals novel insight into bacterial induced host genotoxicity, inflammation and epithelial defence mechanisms.
Date: 30 November 2017, 11:00 (Thursday, 8th week, Michaelmas 2017)
Venue: NDM Building, Headington OX3 7FZ
Venue Details: TDI, Basement meeting room, NDM Research Building
Speaker: Dr Francesco Boccellato (Max Planck Institute for Infectious Biology)
Organising department: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford Branch
Organiser: Christina Woodward (Oxford Ludwig Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: christina.woodward@ludwig.ox.ac.uk
Hosts: Ludo Buti (Ludwig Cancer Research, University of Oxford), Prof Xin Lu (Ludwig Cancer Research, Oxford Branch)
Part of: Ludwig Institute Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editors: Mary Muers, Christina Woodward