Sandra Breum Andersen

Postdoctoral fellow

NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City, United States

Biography

Apparently simple bacteria lead complex social lives –cooperating, competing and cheating. When these interactions occur in a human body it may affect our health. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is known for causing stomach ulcers and cancer but has recently been found to also have its benefits, by priming the immune system. I will test how the social life of Hp affects host health. Some Hp produce proteins that have both positive and negative effects. I will explore whether production is a cooperative behaviour, and the host effects of Hp interactions, with a mouse assay where Hp protects against asthma. Understanding these dynamics will be a step towards managing Hp infection.

English
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