My laboratory studies the interaction of the bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori with its host’s immune system using in vitro systems and human biopsies. H. pylori persistently colonizes the human gastric mucosa The colonization with H.pylori can lead to gastric alterations such as chronic gastritis and ulcers as well as two malignancies, gastric adenocarcinoma and B­cell lymphoma. In addition, we use cell culture models­ both cell lines and primary immune cells­ that allow us to study early aspects of H. pylori/host interactions as well as mechanisms of immune recognition. We use a variety of tools, ranging from immunofluorescence microscopy and FACS, to all standard molecular biology techniques involving protein, RNA and DNA analysis. A special emphasis of the lab is on characterizing Helicobacter specific regulatory B cells and their interaction with other immune cells.

Collaborations

Prof. Dr. Anne Müller
Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University of Zurich, Zurich Switzerland

Prof. Dr. İhsan Gürsel
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güneş Esendağlı
Department of Basic Oncology, Cancer Institute, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Prof. Dr. Tanıl Kocagöz
Department of Microbiology, Acıbadem University, Istanbul, Turkey

Prof. Dr. Levent Trabzon
ITU-MEMS Research Center, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey