Microbial and Metabolic Immune Modulation
Group Leader:
Dr Kendle Maslowski
Our lab is interested in the interplay between microbes, epithelium and the immune system in the intestine. Bacteria have been used experimentally as cancer therapeutic agents since the work of William Coley in the early 1900’s, yet only one bacterial cancer therapy (BCT) is in clinical use; BCG therapy for superficial bladder cancer. We are working toward understanding and improving BCTs by investigating mechanisms of bacterial adaptation to the tumour, direct effects of bacteria on tumour growth and effects on immune responses. More broadly, we are interested in host-microbe interplay within the intestine as can be soon in a word cloud generated from our publications (Figure 1).
Lab Reports
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Recent Publications
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Lab Members
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Recent Publications
2024
Copland A, Mackie GM, Scarfe L, Jinks E, Lecky DAJ, Gudgeon N, McQuade R, Ono M, Barthel M, Hardt W-D, Ohno H, Hoevenaar WHM, Dimeloe S, Bending D, Maslowski KM. Salmonella cancer therapy metabolically disrupts tumours at the collateral cost of T cell immunity. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 0(0):1-32.
2023
Fisch D, Pfleiderer MM, Anastasakou E, Mackie GM, Wendt F, Liu X, Clough B, Lara-Reyna S, Encheva V, Snijders AP, Bando H, Yamamoto M, Beggs AD, Mercer J, Shenoy AR, Wollscheid B, Maslowski KM, Galej WP, Frickel EM. PIM1 controls GBP1 activity to limit self-damage and to guard against pathogen infection. Science. 2023;382(6666):eadg2253.
2022
Bishop EL, Gudgeon NH, Mackie GM, Chauss D, Roberts J, Tennant DA, Maslowski KM, Afzali B, Hewison M, Dimeloe S. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses CD4(+) T-cell effector functionality by inhibition of glycolysis. Immunology. 2022;166:299-309.
Bombaci G, Sarangdhar MA, Andina N, Tardivel A, Yu EC, Mackie GM, Pugh M, Ozan VB, Banz Y, Spinetti T, Hirzel C, Youd E, Schefold JC, Taylor G, Gazdhar A, Bonadies N, Angelillo-Scherrer A, Schneider P, Maslowski KM, Allam R. LRR-protein RNH1 dampens the inflammasome activation and is associated with COVID-19 severity. Life Sci Alliance. 2022;5.
Elliot TAE, Jennings EK, Lecky DAJ, Rouvray S, Mackie GM, Scarfe L, Sheriff L, Ono M, Maslowski KM, Bending D. Nur77-Tempo mice reveal T cell steady state antigen recognition. Discov Immunol. 2022;1:kyac009.
2021
Elliot TAE, Jennings EK, Lecky DAJ, Thawait N, Flores-Langarica A, Copland A, Maslowski KM, Wraith DC, Bending D. Antigen and checkpoint receptor engagement recalibrates T cell receptor signal strength. Immunity. 2021;54:2481-2496.e2486.
Mackie GM, Copland A, Takahashi M, Nakanishi Y, Everard I, Kato T, Oda H, Kanaya T, Ohno H, Maslowski KM. Bacterial cancer therapy in autochthonous colorectal cancer affects tumor growth and metabolic landscape. JCI Insight. 2021;6.
Scarfe L, Mackie GM, Maslowski KM. Inflammasome-independent functions of NAIPs and NLRs in the intestinal epithelium. Biochem Soc Trans. 2021;49:2601-2610.
2020
Sasaki N, Miyamoto K, Maslowski KM, Ohno H, Kanai T, Sato T. Development of a Scalable Coculture System for Gut Anaerobes and Human Colon Epithelium. Gastroenterology. 2020;159:388-390.e385.
2019
Maslowski KM. Metabolism at the centre of the host-microbe relationship. Clin Exp Immunol. 2019;197:193-204.
2018
Chennupati V, Veiga DF, Maslowski KM, Andina N, Tardivel A, Yu EC, Stilinovic M, Simillion C, Duchosal MA, Quadroni M, Roberts I, Sankaran VG, MacDonald HR, Fasel N, Angelillo-Scherrer A, Schneider P, Hoang T, Allam R. Ribonuclease inhibitor 1 regulates erythropoiesis by controlling GATA1 translation. J Clin Invest. 2018;128:1597-1614.
2015
Allam R, Maillard MH, Tardivel A, Chennupati V, Bega H, Yu CW, Velin D, Schneider P, Maslowski KM. Epithelial NAIPs protect against colonic tumorigenesis. J Exp Med. 2015;212:369-383.
Vieira AT, Macia L, Galvão I, Martins FS, Canesso MC, Amaral FA, Garcia CC, Maslowski KM, De Leon E, Shim D, Nicoli JR, Harper JL, Teixeira MM, Mackay CR. A Role for Gut Microbiota and the Metabolite-Sensing Receptor GPR43 in a Murine Model of Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67:1646-1656.
Sellin ME, Maslowski KM, Maloy KJ, Hardt WD. Inflammasomes of the intestinal epithelium. Trends Immunol. 2015;36:442-450.
2014
Scott C, Bonner J, Min D, Boughton P, Stokes R, Cha KM, Walters SN, Maslowski K, Sierro F, Grey ST, Twigg S, McLennan S, Gunton JE. Reduction of ARNT in myeloid cells causes immune suppression and delayed wound healing. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2014;307:C349-357.
Sellin ME, Müller AA, Felmy B, Dolowschiak T, Diard M, Tardivel A, Maslowski KM, Hardt WD. Epithelium-intrinsic NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome drives infected enterocyte expulsion to restrict Salmonella replication in the intestinal mucosa. Cell Host Microbe. 2014;16:237-248.
2013
Zaiss MM, Maslowski KM, Mosconi I, Guenat N, Marsland BJ, Harris NL. IL-1β suppresses innate IL-25 and IL-33 production and maintains helminth chronicity. PLoS Pathog. 2013;9:e1003531.
Michallet MC, Rota G, Maslowski K, Guarda G. Innate receptors for adaptive immunity. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2013;16:296-302.
2012
Macia L, Thorburn AN, Binge LC, Marino E, Rogers KE, Maslowski KM, Vieira AT, Kranich J, Mackay CR. Microbial influences on epithelial integrity and immune function as a basis for inflammatory diseases. Immunol Rev. 2012;245:164-176.
2011
Kranich J, Maslowski KM, Mackay CR. Commensal flora and the regulation of inflammatory and autoimmune responses. Semin Immunol. 2011;23:139-145.
Maslowski KM, Mackay CR. Diet, gut microbiota and immune responses. Nat Immunol. 2011;12:5-9.
2009
Maslowski KM, Vieira AT, Ng A, Kranich J, Sierro F, Yu D, Schilter HC, Rolph MS, Mackay F, Artis D, Xavier RJ, Teixeira MM, Mackay CR. Regulation of inflammatory responses by gut microbiota and chemoattractant receptor GPR43. Nature. 2009;461:1282-1286.
Senior Scientific Officer
Wilma Hoevernarr
My name is Wilma and I work as Senior Scientific Officer in the Maslowski lab. After a Bsc and Msc in neurobiology (Amsterdam), a PhD in chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer (Hubrecht Institute, NL) and a postdoc on gamma delta T cells in metastatic breast cancer (Beatson), I’m now combining all these interests in cancer biology, immunology and in vivo/organoid models. In the lab we work on exploring the potential of bacterial cancer therapy with attenuated Salmonella. At the moment I’m working on finishing a project on Nod-like receptor (NLR) apoptosis inhibitory proteins (Naips) and immune activation in colorectal cancer, I support the lab members with their projects and try to keep the lab running smoothly. When not at work, I’m quite busy being a mum of two boys and exploring beautiful Scotland with them.
Scientific Officer
Declan McLelland
My name is Declan, and I serve as the scientific officer in our lab. My research focuses on the immune system, particularly its role in bacterial cancer therapy. I’m currently investigating the antigen presentation and how bacterial cancer therapy may improve dendritic cell cross-priming capacity, thus improving the adaptive immune response against tumours. I also support the daily lab operations of the group and other related projects. I completed my BSc in Immunology & Microbiology at Strathclyde University and MSc at University of Glasgow in Immunology & Inflammatory disease where I stayed to work as a Research Assistant in T cell – Fibroblast interactions in fibrotic diseases. Outside of the lab, I love reading, baking, and exploring new food cuisines from around the world.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Ross McInnes
My name is Ross McInnes, and I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Maslowski group. I completed a BSc degree at the University of Strathclyde before heading south to undertake a master’s degree at the University of Nottingham and a PhD at the University of Birmingham. My background is in molecular microbiology with a focus on the gut microbiome and multi-omics. My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind bacterial cancer therapy and the role of the gut microbiome in cancer development. When I’m not in the lab (or at the computer) I enjoy running, reading, and baking.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Opeyemi Adekoluerjo*
Information about this team member’s research interests, experience, and background will be added soon. Please check back for updates.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Xingwen Huang*
Information about this team member’s research interests, experience, and background will be added soon. Please check back for updates.
MSci Student
Nicholas Colella*
Information about this team member’s research interests, experience, and background will be added soon. Please check back for updates.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Sofia Sandalli*
Information about this team member’s research interests, experience, and background will be added soon. Please check back for updates.
PhD Student
Marwa Osman
My name is Marwa and I am a PhD student from Cairo, Egypt. I completed my Bachelor’s in Medical Laboratory Sciences and my Master’s in Clinical Oncology at the University of Birmingham. I am currently exploring lactate utilization by different Salmonella typhimurium mutants to improve bacterial cancer therapy in colorectal cancer. Outside of work, I love traveling and art.