We are kicking of the fall with our first talk by Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Silvio Brugger from University Hospital Zurich.
Silvio is Senior Attending Physician at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene and has his own research group. Its main focus is on bacterial interspecies interactions in the human host as a source for microbiota-targeted therapies. In addition, he is also working on projects about infectious disease epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance.
Abstract:
Respiratory pathogens remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and increasing antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Growing evidence indicates that the resident microbial communities of the upper respiratory tract play an important role in maintaining health and influencing susceptibility to infection. This presentation explores how beneficial members of the respiratory microbiota can limit pathogen colonization and enhance host defense mechanisms. Using a combination of microbiome analyses, experimental coculture systems, advanced tissue models, and host-pathogen interaction studies, the work demonstrates that commensal microorganisms can both directly inhibit pathogen growth and indirectly strengthen epithelial and immune-mediated protection. These findings support the concept that modulation of the respiratory microbiota represents a promising approach to prevent infections, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics. Ultimately, microbiota-based interventions may provide new opportunities for personalized and sustainable management of infectious diseases.
Everyone is welcome!
Best wishes,
LIT organizing team
Comments