Our research explores the complex interplay between the mucosal immune system and the intestinal microbiome in health and disease, with a particular focus on how microbiome perturbations during critical periods of immune development can have lasting consequences. One such clinical scenario is autologous stem cell transplantation, a standard treatment to consolidate therapeutic responses in multiple myeloma patients. During the early post-transplant phase, patients often receive broad-spectrum antibiotics to manage infections due to severe immunosuppression. These antibiotics can significantly alter the microbiome, potentially comprising immune priming during the pivotal period of hematologic reconstitution. Our work aims to clarify how such microbiome alterations impact immune recovery, progression of disease, and overall treatment outcomes.
In addition, we study the early-life microbiome, recognizing that microbial exposure during the ‘window of opportunity’ is essential for imprinting and maturing the immune system. We investigate how specific commensal microbes shape neonatal immune development and influence the risk of autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders. Furthermore, we examine host-pathogen interactions with a focus on opportunistic pathogens like Escherichia coli (E. coli), with the goal of elucidating its pathogenic mechanisms in patients with intestinal inflammation.
- Czech M, Schneider S, Peltokangas N, El Khawanky N, Ghimire S, Andrieux G, Hülsdünker J, Krausz M, …, Gerner RR, Grün D, Zeiser R. Lipocalin-2 expression identifies an intestinal regulatory neutrophil population during acute graft-versus-host disease. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Feb 21;16(735):eadi1501.
- Gerner RR, Hossain S, Sargun A, Siada K, Norton GJ, Zheng T, Neumann W, Nuccio SP, Nolan EM, Raffatellu M. Siderophore Immunization Restricted Colonization of Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli and Ameliorated Experimental Colitis. mBio. 2022 Oct 26;13(5):e0218422.
- Mills RH, Dulai PS, Vázquez-Baeza Y, Sauceda C, Daniel N, Gerner RR, Batachari LE, Malfavon M, Zhu Q, Weldon K, Humphrey G, Carrillo-Terrazas M, Goldasich LD, Bryant M, Raffatellu M, Quinn RA, Gewirtz AT, Chassaing B, Chu H, Sandborn WJ, Dorrestein PC, Knight R, Gonzalez DJ. Multi-omics analyses of the ulcerative colitis gut microbiome link Bacteroides vulgatus proteases with disease severity. Nat Microbiol. 2022 Feb;7(2):262-276.
- Gerner RR, Nuccio SP, Raffatellu M. Iron at the host-microbe interface. Mol Aspects Med. 2020 Oct;75:100895.
- Gerner RR, Macheiner S, Reider S, Siegmund K, Grabherr F, Mayr L, Texler B, Moser P, Effenberger M, Schwaighofer H, Moschen AR, Kircher B, Oberacher H, Zeiser R, Tilg H, Nachbaur D. Targeting NAD immunometabolism limits severe graft-versus-host disease and has potent antileukemic activity. Leukemia. 2020;34(7):1885-1897.
- Gerner RR, Klepsch V, Macheiner S, Arnhard K, Adolph TE, Grander C, Wieser V, Pfister A, Moser P, Hermann-Kleiter N, Baier G, Oberacher H, Tilg H, Moschen AR. NAD metabolism fuels human and mouse intestinal inflammation. Gut. 2018 Aug;67(8):1434-1444.
- Tilg H, Adolph TE, Gerner RR, Moschen AR. The Intestinal Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Cell. 2018 Jun 11;33(6):954-964.
- Moschen AR, Gerner RR, Wang J, Klepsch V, Adolph TE, Reider SJ, Hackl H, Pfister A, Schilling J, Moser PL, Kempster SL, Swidsinski A, Orth Höller D, Weiss G, Baines JF, Kaser A, Tilg H. Lipocalin 2 Protects from Inflammation and Tumorigenesis Associated with Gut Microbiota Alterations. Cell Host Microbe. 2016 Apr 13;19(4):455-69.
We welcome motivated medical students interested in writing a doctoral thesis (klinische Doktorarbeit). Written applications are encouraged and can be submitted via email to Prof. Dr. Romana Gerner.
- SFB 1371 Microbiome Signatures
- TUM seed fund for ERC Starting Grant
- Intramural funds (25.000 €/ year)
- Clinician Scientist – Hauptprogramm - Förderung TUM School of Medicine and Health
- Jose Carreras Leukemia Foundation (150 000€, application submitted)
- ERC Starting Grant 1 500 000€ (2025 call)