Abstract

This Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar will take place on Thursday 10 July 2025, starting at 4:00-5:00pm

Speaker: Jakob Zimmermann, Department for Biomedical Research, University of Berne, Germany

Title: “Induction, persistence and function of microbiota-specific CD4 T cell memory”

Abstract: The intestinal microbiota contains a vast array of antigens, which throughout life stimulate mucosal T cell responses. To demonstrate how intermittent exposures to an intestinal symbiont drive antigen-specific CD4 T cell resident memory, we have genetically engineered a mutant strain of Lactobacillus reuteri that reversibly colonizes the gut of germ-free mice. We have combined this system that uncouples microbial exposure from permanent colonization with detection of antigen-specific T cells by custom adoptive transfer and peptide:MHC tools to address the induction, persistence, and function of microbiota-directed CD4 T cell responses. Our findings reveal that benign symbionts elicit long-lived, antigen-independent, tissue-resident CD4 T cells with significant implications for our understanding of host–microbial mutualism in the intestine.

Host: Noe Rodriguez Rodriguez, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.