Specialization
Role of the gut microbiome in the development of sepsis in preterm infants
Focus of research
My project focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in the development of sepsis in preterm children. Sepsis is a systemic infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi and in extreme cases can lead to death. Research conducted at the AMC revealed that the bacteria causing sepsis in these children could be found in their gut up to 7 days before development of the disease. The goal of this project is to understand the mechanism that allows this bacteria to reach the blood, with the hope that it can be prevented. This will be done using intestinal organoids, which are able to replicate the environment of the human intestine.