The intestinal mucosal barrier in health and disease

PI: Björn O. Schröder, Ph.D.

Department of Molecular Biology
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To prevent infection by or translocation of the gut microbiota into underlaying tissues, the intestinal epithelium exhibits defense mechanisms, such as the production of intestinal mucus and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Our research projects will focus on how dietary and other factors influence the interaction between gut microbiota and the mucosal barrier (intestinal mucus and AMPs) and we will investigate the relevance of this interaction in the context of diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic diseases.

In the laboratory we will use a combination of gut microbiota analyses, microbiota transplantations (FMT), state-of-the-art ex vivo mucus measurements, antimicrobial assays, as well as confocal and fluorescence microscopy. In addition, we will use dietary interventions in mice and humans and closely work with Norrlands University Hospital Umeå (NUS) to analyze relevant patient samples.In the Schröder lab we are interested to better understand the close relationship between host and microbes in the intestine. Specifically, we focus on antimicrobial peptides, which are host-produced peptide antibiotics, and intestinal mucus, the gel-like layer that is covering the intestinal epithelium. We use a combination of gut microbiota analyses, microbiota transplantations (FMT), state-of-the-art ex vivo mucus measurements, antimicrobial assays, as well as confocal and fluorescence microscopy. In addition, we use dietary interventions in mice and humans and will closely work with Norrlands University Hospital Umeå (NUS) to analyze relevant patient samples.

Our lab is at the Department of Molecular Biology, which is located on the Campus of the University Hospital of Umeå (Norrlands universitetssjukhus).

At the moment we are not actively recruiting, but interested and highly motivated postdoctoral candidates and undergraduate students (Summer/ Bachelor-/ Master level) are welcome to contact Björn Ole Schröder, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss options.

More information about Björn Schröder's lab: https://mucubacter.org/

 Photo credit: Christopher Coe and Mattias Petterson.