Thesis supervisor: Bálint Csörgő
co-supervisor: Zsolt Czimmerer
Location of studies (in Hungarian): HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Institute of Biochemistry Abbreviation of location of studies: SZBK
Description of the research topic:
Macrophages are critical components of the innate immune system, as they provide the first line of defense against bacterial pathogens. Their surrounding cytokine environment has a substantial effect on their various responses to bacterial infections which can often be observed in chronic inflammatory diseases, leading to their progression and an increase in severity. Inspite of this, little is known about what specific factors may influence bacterial-induced exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases. Our work aims to explore how different cytokines influence macrophage-bacteria interactions and whether this could influence the outcome of bacterial infections in various inflammatory diseases. We aim to explore epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms behind the interactions of bacteria with macrophages primed by specific cytokines. Ultimately, the goal is to identify key factors in macrophages and bacteria that cause the impairment of antibacterial host responses in the context of dysregulated cytokine environments. The findings could contribute to developing novel host- or pathogen-directed intervention strategies for treating bacterial infections in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as severe asthma and COPD.
Required language skills: English Further requirements: a high level of motivation and interest in the topic
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