Antonio Serapio-Palacios

Research summary 

The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that plays a key role in protecting the host against infection. It forms the first line of defense by preventing invading pathogens from colonizing the gastrointestinal tract, a process known as colonization resistance. Despite this, many enteric pathogens have evolved strategies to overcome this barrier, accessing scarce resources and establishing close contact with the intestinal lining. Bacterial proteins and metabolites produced and secreted by both pathogens and the microbiota often mediate this interaction, although the precise mechanisms involved remain poorly understood.

Our research group studies the interplay between bacterial pathogens, the microbiota, and their host. We focus on two main themes: 1) elucidating the molecular mechanism through which enteric pathogens and commensal bacteria manipulate the host cellular processes, and 2) investigating how these microorganisms alter the gut microbiota.

To achieve these goals, we integrate molecular and cellular microbiology, cell biology, and mucosal immunology. We use a combination of animal infection models (pathogenic Escherichia coli, Citrobacter rodentium, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium), tissue culture infection models, and in-vitro competition assays. Using these approaches, we aim to identify the mechanisms that mediate interbacterial competition and help bacteria subvert their host. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to combat life-threatening infections.