Research
Supervisor: Marc Veldhoen
The recent description of a novel system of primary organoid cultures gave rise to a breakthrough in cellular studies, providing the tools needed to study complex interactions between host tissues and invading pathogens ex vivo. We are interested to study the interactions between intestinal organoids and the intracellular Apicomplexan parasite Eimeria falciformis. As causative agents of coccidiosis, Eimeria spp. have a significant economic impact on animal husbandry. Successful completion of the life cycle in vitro, which has not yet been achieved to date, is very likely to require the interaction of the different epithelial cell types that are present in the intestinal organoid model. Thus, using intestinal organoids as a model of infection we want to better understand the mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions.
Publications
Teixeira-Coelho M, Guedes J, Ferreirinha P, Howes A, Pedrosa J, Rodrigues F, Lai WS, Blackshear PJ, O'Garra A, Castro AG, Saraiva M. Differential post-transcriptional regulation of IL-10 by TLR2 and TLR4-activated macrophages. Eur J Immunol. 2014 Mar;44(3):856-66.