About DIMEGA
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is the most prevalent antibody deficiency underlying recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Previous studies in healthy humans and mice have shown that IgA production is influenced by microbial communities.
In DIMEGA, we investigate the etiological role of the intestinal microbiota in IgA deficiency and induction in the DIMER cohort of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections using human samples and in vivo experiments in germ-free mice.
In addition, we explore the cross-talk between the gut and airway mucosal immune system (i.e. the gut-lung axis) by investigating the intestinal microbiota in relation to IgA production in the lung and respiratory tract infection severity. This work provides a basis for potential therapeutic interventions modulating the microbiome in paediatric risk groups.
The DIMEGA team
Principal investigator and primary affiliation
Dr. Lilly Verhagen
(Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands)
Central Animal Laboratory, Radboudumc, Nijmegen
Charlene de Kluijs-Bender
UMC Utrecht, Utrecht
Dr. Marcel de Zoete
Dr. Marianne Boes
Dr. Debby Bogaert
Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Department of Pathology, RadboudUMC, Nijmegen
Prof. Marien de Jonge
Dr. Meyke Hermsen
Drs. Geert van Weelden
Fred van Opzeeland
Saskia van Selm
