Research Axis 2: Host responses to infection by E. coli pathobionts involved in chronic intestinal pathologies

Thematic leaders: Hang Nguyen and Jérémy Denizot

• Impact of AIEC colonization on chronic intestinal inflammation in a susceptible host.
  • Influence of host susceptibility factors (e.g., autophagy, epigenetics) on intestinal homeostasis, gut microbiota and susceptibility to AIEC infection and subsequent gut inflammation.
  • Impact of AIEC on epithelial physiology (Epigenetic modifications in intestinal epithelial cells; Exosomes in cell-to-cell communication and host response to AIEC infection).
  • Modulation of the mucosal immune homeostasis by AIEC bacteria.
  • Impact of environmental factors on host-AIEC interaction.

• Impact of environmental factors and chronic pathobiont colonization on colorectal carcinogenesis.
  • The impact of cyclomodulin-producing E. coli (CPEC) on colorectal carcinogenesis.
  • Impact of CPEC infection on epithelial cell compartment (Involvement of oxidative stress in the pro-carcinogenic effect of CPEC; Role of CPEC in the emergence of cancer chemotherapy resistance and epithelial to mesenchymal transition).
  • Interaction of chronic CPEC infection with host immune system (Innate immune response with a focus on autophagy; Impact of CPEC chronic infection on anti-tumor immune response with a focus on T cells).
  • Impact of microsporidiosis on the occurrence of colorectal cancer.
  • Impact of xenobiotics on CPEC colonization and colorectal carcinogenesis.