Prof. Dr. Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg

Principal Investigator

BHH

MEM F811

Address

Murtenstrasse 35

ZIP code and town

CH-3008 Bern

Contact

Tel. +41 31 632 87 16
​​​​​​​stephanie.ganalextra@dbmr.unibe.ch

Research Interests

  • host-commensal mutualism
  • innate immunity
  • the impact of maternal microbiota on the function of the newborn immune system
  • epigenetic regulation in the immune system

Our inner and outer body surfaces are constantly colonized with a vast number of microbes – the commensal microbiota. The interplay between these microbes and the host are of great importance for host physiology and influence not only the host immune system, but also other functions such as the host metabolic capacity or its nervous system. In my research I focus on two important factors in host-microbial mutualism: First, I would like to understand if there are critical windows of opportunities throughput the development/life of a mammal, in which the microbiota can have certain effects on the host immune system. I am particularly interested if signals originating from the microbiota of the mother alter immunity of the offspring. Second, I am investigating the molecular mechanisms how signals from the commensal microbiota can modify such important organ functions in the host. If signals are sensed during early life/development, epigenetic alterations may be a candidate mechanism to explain the long-term effect of such early life events. My current research tries to reveal such interactions.