Deciphering the role of intestinal microbiome-derived metabolites on microglia activation during GVHD and ICANS (B06)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Clinical Immunology and Allergology ; Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259373024

Host microbiota play an important role in regulating microglia homeostasis and function. Using our graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) mouse models we aim to study the effects of microbiome modulation on microglia. We aim to better understand how microbiome modifications, which can be induced by antibiotics, will impact microglia activation and if certain metabolites can help to reverse the phenotype. We will use mouse models, human samples, high-resolution microscopy, 3D reconstruction, single-cell analyses, computational modelling, kinase activation screens and cell-specific knock out lines.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 167: Development, function and potential of myeloid cells in the central nervous system (NeuroMac)
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Natalie Köhler, since 1/2025; Professor Dr. Robert Zeiser