Our immune system gradually matures during the first year(s) of life. There is a notable immunological variation between individuals; partly determined by genetic factors but also by environmental exposures. A prominent environmental factor in this context, is the gut microbiota colonization/composition. The interactions between the early microbiota and the host will promote immune development and maturation. Disturbances during this early process generating microbial deprivation/deviation, could result in poor infant immune maturation and/or altered immune balance.
Our main research goals are to understand biological mechanisms behind (gut) microbe-induced immune modulation - how it drives immune development but also immune mediated diseases like allergy. We also aim to understand how the microbiota contributes to chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity as well as to the recovery of immune functions after cancer treatment. We perform cellular and molecular experimental studies in vitro with mammalian cells, bacteria and viruses, complemented by in vivo studies in murine models and work with human clinical samples.
Key words
Immune maturation, lactobacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, allergy, chemotherapy
Selected publications
Gut commensal Limosilactobacillus reuteri induces atypical memory-like phenotype in human dendritic cells in vitro.
Lasaviciute G, Barz M, van der Heiden M, Arasa C, Tariq K, Quin J, Östlund Farrants AK, Sverremark-Ekström E. Gut Microbes. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2045046. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2045046. PMID: 35258405
Extreme prematurity and sepsis strongly influence frequencies and functional characteristics of circulating γδ T and natural killer cells.
Rahman Qazi K, Jensen GB, van der Heiden M, Björkander S, Marchini G, Jenmalm MC, Abrahamsson T, Sverremark-Ekström E. Clin Transl Immunology. 2021 Jun 10;10(6):e1294. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1294.
Activation of human γδ T cells and NK cells by Staphylococcal enterotoxins requires both monocytes and conventional T cells.
Mata Forsberg M, Arasa C, van Zwol W, Uzunçayir S, Schönbichler A, Regenthal P, Schelin J, Lindkvist-Petersson K, Björkander S, Sverremark-Ekström E. J Leukoc Biol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/JLB.3A1020-630RR. Online ahead of print.
Effects of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on the gut microbiota in extremely preterm infants in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Martí M, Spreckels JE, Ranasinghe PD, Wejryd E, Marchini G, Sverremark-Ekström E, Jenmalm MC, Abrahamsson T. Cell Rep Med. 2021 Feb 22;2(3):100206. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100206. eCollection 2021 Mar 16.
Childhood allergy is preceded by an absence of gut lactobacilli species and higher levels of atopy-related plasma chemokines.
Björkander S, Carvalho-Queiroz C, Hallberg J, Persson JO, Johansson MA, Nussbaum B, Jenmalm MC, Nilsson C, Sverremark-Ekström E. Clin Exp Immunol. 2020 Dec;202(3):288-299. doi: 10.1111/cei.13494. Epub 2020 Aug 5.
Extracellular Membrane Vesicles from Lactobacilli Dampen IFN-γ Responses in a Monocyte-Dependent Manner.
Mata Forsberg M, Björkander S, Pang Y, Lundqvist L, Ndi M, Ott M, Escribá IB, Jaeger MC, Roos S, Sverremark-Ekström E. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 19;9(1):17109. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53576-6.
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