Dr. Markus Geuking
Positions
Associate Professor
Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Full Member
The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Immunology Research Group
Research Core Lead - Snyder Flow Cytometry Core
The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Nicole Perkins Microbial Communities Core Labs
Chair
The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Immunology Research Group
Full Member
Inflammation Research Network
Full Member
Gastrointestinal Research Group
Academic Lead
IMPACTT Education Portfolio
Contact information
Background
Educational Background
Research Associate Mucosal Immunology, University of Bern, Switzerland,
Postdoctoral Fellow Mucosal Immunology, McMaster University, Canada,
PhD Immunology, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Switzerland,
dipl.mol.biol (MSc equivalent) Molecular Biology, University of Zurich, Switzerland,
Biography
Dr. Markus Geuking is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. He is a member of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases as well as of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Dr. Geuking obtained his PhD in Immunology from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (Switzerland) where he worked in the lab of Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Rolf Zinkernagel. His work focuses on host-microbial immune interactions in health and disease. His lab is employing germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse models in combination with genetically modified commensal bacteria to study the microbiota-immune crosstalk.
Research
Areas of Research
My research group investigates how the intestinal microbiota interacts with the host immune system at the level of T helper cells locally in the mucosa, systemically throughout the body, as well as centrally in the Thymus during T cell development. To study this, we make use of state-of-the art axenic and gnotobiotic in vivo models in combination with genetically modified commensal bacteria. Our research is relevant to a number of immune-mediated disorders that are modulated by the intestinal microbiota including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as allergic disorders. We are also studying how the intestinal microbiota impacts on systemic anti-viral immune responses as well as the consequences of antigen mimicry between commensal bacteria and viral infections.
My team uses axenic (=germ-free) and gnotobiotic (= known defined microbial status) in vivo models in combination with genetically modified commensal species to interrogate whether and how the microbiota can modulate T helper cell responses in health and disease.
The lab also develops genetically modified microbes as tools to study the microbiota-immune crosstalk.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CMMB 565 | Advanced Topics In Microbial Pathogenesis and the Microbiome |
Projects
Using the well-established Lymphocytic Choriomeningits Virus (LCMV) infection model in combination with germ-free, gnotobiotic, SPF, or even wild mouse models we are studying how the intestinal microbiota influences systemic anti-viral immune responses. Potential mechanisms of interest are bacterial metabolites and antigen mimicry between commensal bacteria and the virus.
Using germ-free, gnotobiotic, SPF or even wild mouse models we are studying how metabolites or antinges derived form the intestinal microbiota influence T cell development in the thymus.
Using germ-free and gnotobiotic type 1 diabetes model in combination with auxotrophic commensal bacteria species we are studying how prenatal (during pregnancy) or early life exposure to microbiota-derived bacterial products and metabolites impacts on the development of type 1 diabetes.
Publications
More Information
Michael Dicay
Lab Manager
Shokouh Ahmadi
Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellow
Isla Skalosky
PhD Candidate
Ailidh McGonigle
Graduate student (MSc)
Meg Roach-Romeo
Email: margaret.roachromeo@ucalgary.ca
Phone: 403-220-5903
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