The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding a Reinhart-Koselleck project at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) within the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation² at the University of Bonn with €1.25 million. The research team led by Prof. Christoph Wilhelm, Chair of Immunopathology at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, aims to investigate how the body maintains the balance of the gut microbiome during periods of illness and food scarcity.
When we fall ill, we often lose our appetite – and there’s an evolutionary reason for that. Loss of appetite during illness is an ancient survival mechanism that helps the body focus its energy on fighting infection. However, while humans fast, billions of microorganisms in the gut must adapt to the new conditions. When nutrients become scarce, these microbes experience stress – and normally harmless bacteria may begin to invade the body and trigger inflammation.
“Our previous findings suggest that the body is prepared for this kind of emergency,” explains Prof. Wilhelm, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area Life & Health at the University of Bonn. “We believe the organism has evolved special mechanisms to ‘feed’ its gut bacteria even during times of limited food intake. This interaction between host and microbiome is a fascinating example of the finely tuned cooperation of biological systems. In this project, we aim to uncover the molecular processes that maintain this balance – and understand how their disruption contributes to disease.”
The five-year Reinhart-Koselleck project combines immunological, microbiological, and metabolic approaches. Using state-of-the-art imaging and molecular analysis, the team will study how the body and its microbial partners communicate during fasting or illness. The researchers expect to gain new insights into how the immune system supports the microbiome – and what determines whether the body remains healthy or develops inflammation.
“This project uniquely bridges basic research and medical relevance,” says Prof. Wilhelm. “We want to understand how the body and microbiome have evolved to support each other – even under extreme conditions.”
Reinhart-Koselleck projects are a special funding format of the DFG. They are aimed at outstanding researchers who have demonstrated scientific excellence and originality through their previous achievements. The funding supports particularly high-risk, innovative, and forward-looking research projects that break new scientific ground. Named after historian Reinhart Koselleck (1923–2006), this program is one of the DFG’s most prestigious individual grants.
Contact
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology
University Hospital Bonn
E-Mail: cwilhelm@uni-bonn.de
