Gut region-specific investigation of neuron–microbiota and neuro–immune interactions with histological, ultrastructural and molecular methods in diabetic animal models
Thesis supervisor: Mária Bagyánszki
Location of studies (in Hungarian): University of Szeged, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience Abbreviation of location of studies: SzTE
Description of the research topic:
The variety of microbial stimuli are essential in signals starting from the microbiota-mucosal interface to enteric neurons and influence the neuronal function via extensive neuro-immune interactions in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, our aim to reveal such cellular and molecular mechanisms which are critical in resulting region-specific nitrergic neuropathy in diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats.
During the investigation of the bidirectional communication among the gut microbiota as well as the enterocytes, intestinal immune cells and enteric neurons we try to find answers for these questions:
Which alterations can be occurred in:
- the epithelium of mucosa (ultrastructure of enterocytes and serotonin-containing enteroendocrine cells, status of tight junctions, density of Toll-like receptors),
- the different immune cells of mucosa (density and ultrastructure of immune cells, expression of Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines),
- the submucosal and myenteric neurons, especially the intrinsic primary afferent neurons (density, ultrastructural features, neurochemical characters and receptors of these neurons)
- the microenvironment of submucosal and myenteric ganglia (is there any immune cell invasion, changes in the thickness of basement membrane or in its ultrastructure)?
Required language skills: English (basic) Recommended language skills (in Hungarian): English (intermediate) Further requirements: - MSc (biologist, biology teacher, veterinarian)/MD degree,
- Practice in histological and immunohistochemical techniques.