GRK 1482:  Interface Functions of the Intestine between Luminal Factors and Host Signals

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: from 2008 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 48329094

The intestine acts as a highly selective barrier and communication organ between the nutritional environment and the mammalian metabolism. As an unique organ feature, the gut hosts also a metagenomic ecosystem represented by the gut microbiota. Foods with their particular composition but also food-borne pathogens and probiotic organisms challenge the organ constantly. Signals derived from this interaction are transmitted by neuronal and hormonal networks to peripheral tissues (pancreas, liver, muscle, fat and brain), and this communication is part of nutrient and energy homeostasis and immunological control.
The individual projects of the Research Training Group address specific intestinal functions in health and disease states such as transport of nutrients and non-nutrient components (amino acids, iron, phytosterols), gut microbial functions with challenges by pathogens and probiotics and the responses of the enteric nervous system, the intestinal and systemic immune systems and the hormonal control circuits that determine overall body homeostasis. Special emphasis is put on the role of environmental factors causing disbalances of intestinal functions that lead and contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Despite the fact that most research projects are basic science driven, some relate as well to applied areas of the food and biomedical sciences. There is, for example, a lack of knowledge on the fate of food bacteria - either food-borne pathogens - or probiotic strains in the gut and on their actions on gut functions and the immune system. A prominent role plays the gut microflora also in the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and its contribution to disease initiation and progression is studied as well in collaborative efforts of basic science and gastroenterology.
A high level of interdisciplinarity is achieved by joint research projects with expertise provided by biologists, nutritionists, microbiologists, endocrinologists, food chemist and clinicians participating in and supervising the Research Training Group.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Hannelore Daniel; Professor Dr. Thilo Martin Fuchs; Professor Dr. Hans Hauner; Professor Dr. Martin Klingenspor; Professorin Dr. Anne Krug; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Liebl; Professor Dr. Michael Schemann; Professor Dr. Roland M. Schmid; Professor Dr. Thomas Skurk; Professor Dr. Rudi F. Vogel; Professor Dr. Heiko Witt
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Dirk Haller