Petra Bacher

Consolidated Researcher Details:

Institute:
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel
Research Area:
Intestinal immune regulation
Website:
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel
Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
Petra Bacher
p.bacher [at] ikmb.uni-kiel.de
+49 (0) 431 / 500 - 31 005
RTG-Project (Associated Scientist): Identification of novel mediators of the inflammatory gut-brain axis in human obesity
RTG-Project (Associated Scientist): Identification of MHC class II peptides as antigen-specific T cell targets in inflammatory bowel diseases
RTG-Project (Associated Scientist): Characterization of microbe-specific T cell response in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
RTG-Project (Associated Scientist): Antigenic potential of IBD-associated gut microbes in individuals at high risk
Publications: Longitudinal multi-omics analyses identify responses of megakaryocytes, erythroid cells and plasmablasts as hallmarks of severe COVID-19 trajectories.
Publications: Low avidity CD4+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in unexposed individuals and humans with severe COVID-19.

Why this profession?

During my PhD work, we developed tools to analyze human antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, orchestrating protective but also pathogenic immune responses. The immune system has a fascinating capacity to mount completely different types of reactions against the various different types of antigens the human body is confronted with. We want to understand, how these different responses are regulated on the level of the antigen-specific T cells and how dysregulated T cell responses against a particular antigen can contribute to pathology, as it is the case for example in inflammatory bowel diseases, allergy or uncontrolled infections. We have now the tools to study these fundamental processes directly in cells from the human immune system. This will significantly advance the understanding of basic mechanisms underlying human immune-mediated diseases and speed up the development of new diagnostic as well as therapeutic strategies.

Why RTG Genes, Environment and Inflammation?

I am particular interested in how tolerance against usually harmless antigens, like commensals or food is generated. We want to understand against which antigens and by which mechanisms tolerogenic T cell responses are formed and identify how this tolerance can be broken, as it is the case for typically harmless microbes in inflammatory bowel diseases. The RTG integrates research on genetic susceptibility and the environmental mechanisms that lead to disease manifestations. Thus the RTG provides an excellent research environment by providing different expertise needed to investigate the interaction between environmental factors and microbial and inflammatory processes that lead to dysfunctions and intestinal tissue inflammation.