Physical and Biological Barriers at the Interface Between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System

Marika Falcone, MD, PhD, is Group Leader in the Department of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan. Her research focuses on the interface of the gut microbiome and immune system.

• 1. Intestinal Hub for development and regulation of innate and adaptive immunity.- 2. Gut microbiota and immune homeostasis at the intestinal and systemic level.- 3. The Intestinal epithelial barrier.- 4. The gut vascular barrier.- 5. Anti-microbial peptides.- 6. The mucus layer.- 7. Intestinal mucosal immunity and biological gut barriers shaping microbiota composition.- 8. Food for the immune system: dietary components for modulating systemic immunity.- 9. Microbial metabolites from commensal microbiota and immune homeostasis.- 10. Endogenous bile acid metabolites with immune regulatory functions.- 11. Neuroimmune interaction at the intestinal barrier surface.- 12. The interplay between commensal microbiota, gut barrier integrity, and mucosal immunity regulates extra-intestinal autoimmune diseases.- 13. Gut regulators of cancer.- 14. Strengthening innate and adaptive immunity against viral infections in the gut.- 15. Changing the gut environment to modulate immune response in extra-intestinal pathologies.