Tonic type I interferon induction by the human gut microbiota and its role in infection and cancer (13)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 318346496

This project aims to explore how the human gut microbiome influences tonic interferon production in healthy individuals, patients with viral infections or cancer, and ultimately impacts patient outcomes. To this end we will correlate microbiome composition, type I interferon responses and clinical outcomes in an existing cohort study of Covid19 and in clinical studies of cancer. We will use an in vitro reporter assay system for type I interferon production and a mouse model of fecal microbiota transplantation to characterize the interferon inducing potential of complex microbial samples.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1292: Targeting convergent mechanisms of inefficient immunity in tumors and chronic infections
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Dr. Hans Christian Probst; Professor Dr. Hansjörg Schild, until 12/2025; Professorin Sara Vieira-Silva, Ph.D.