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MIVAC laboratories are world leaders in mucin biology and epithelial cell immunobiology, including the identification of epithelial receptors for bacteria, viruses and toxins. Together MIVAC immunologists and microbiologists address questions regarding the integrity of mucosal barriers, the direct role of epithelial cells in processing vaccine antigens, and the maintenance of these the barrier functions in health and in chronic inflammatory disease. 

The project aims to analyze interactions between the colonic mucus layer, normal bacterial flora and the immune system, in order to establish what impact they have on the quality of the mucus layer. Ultimately the project aims to define pathways and/or compounds that can improve the quality of the mucus layer in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients. It is based on previous findings that UC patients have chronic and relapsing episodes of epithelial inflammation, perhaps influenced by a perturbed microbial flora, and the novel finding that the firm layer of mucus appears to be devoid of bacteria. The project combines expertise in mucin and mucus biology, intestinal immune responses, intestinal bacteria and germ free animals, clinical gastroenterology, animal experiments and confocal endoscopy and the large breeding stocks of different mouse strains at MIVAC. 

Postdoc involved in the project: Jessica Holmén-Larsson.