A03

A03 (Gomez de Agüero) investigates the molecular decision points that underlie susceptibility to colonisation and consecutive infections of preterm murine pups with different Staphylococcus spp.. M. Gomez de Agüero previously established the role of the maternal gut microbiome in promoting organ development during pregnancy. In her project, she aims to clarify why immature skin epithelia are less resistant to pathogen colonisation and hypothesises that the interplay between the commensal microbiome and the premature skin plays a decisive role. To this end, she will employ a unique gestational colonisation model in which germ-free mice have either functionally mature or immature skin, yet a similar gestational age. This allows systematic analyses of how the maturing tissue and immune system as well as commensal-derived cues impact the colonisation with non-pathogenic versus pathogenic bacteria.

We hypothesize that specific determinants of the undifferentiated skin of preterm babies represent an environment that promotes colonisation by pathogenic S. epidermidis strains. Our preliminary results show that these strains grow more efficiently than commensal strain on undifferentiated skin. The overall aim of this project is to understand the role that the host plays in the dynamic of bacterial colonisation of the skin and to identify molecular mechanism controlling it in order to reduce the risk of infections. We will focus on revealing the physiologic tissue-specific requirements for the selection of favourable early life skin colonisers.

Aim 1: Revealing the physiologic tissue-specific requirements for skin colonisation by commensals versus pathogens.

Aim 2: Studying the contribution of metabolic reprogramming in hampering skin colonisation by pathogens.

Aim 3: Dissecting the synergistic cooperation between host- and microbial-molecular decision points to preserve the niche for commensals.