We are the Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology at ETH Zurich and The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

Our lab is dedicated to understand the interactions between microbes and the host at mucosal surfaces. We are interested in applying this knowledge to prevent and treat human and veterinary diseases. We want to understand how diet, microbiota, metabolism and immunity interact in health and disease. Currently we are 80% located at the ETH Zürich, and 20% in Oxford, with research running in both locations.

Have a look at our research projects here Research projects
Have a look at our Publications here Publications
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Mucosal immune system

The interactions between diet, the microbiota and the host immune system

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"Next-generation" vaccines

Safe and effective vaccines for application in livestock rearing.

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Microbiota metabolism

Mechanistic understanding of food-as-therapy for microbiota/immunity-related diseases.

Research Projects

Our current understanding of microbiota population dynamics in the gut is based on the sequencing data or the quantification of certain strains by culture.

Publications

Reproducible Colonization of Germ-Free Mice With the Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota in Different Animal Facilities

Claudia Eberl, Diana Ring, Philipp C. Münch, Markus Beutler, Marijana Basic, Emma C. Slack, Martin Schwarzer, Dagmar Srutkova, Anna Lange, Julia S. Frick, André Bleich and Bärbel Stecher

Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 10, pp. 2999, Lausanne: Fontiers Research Foundation, 2020.

Reproducible Colonization of Germ-Free Mice With the Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota in Different Animal Facilities

Claudia Eberl, Diana Ring, Philipp C. Münch, Markus Beutler, Marijana Basic, Emma C. Slack, Martin Schwarzer, Dagmar Srutkova, Anna Lange, Julia S. Frick, André Bleich and Bärbel Stecher

Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 10, pp. 2999, Lausanne: Fontiers Research Foundation, 2020.

IgA and the intestinal microbiota: the importance of being specific

Oliver Pabst and Emma Slack

Mucosal Immunology, vol. 13: no. 1, pp. 12-21, New York, NY: Nature Publishing Group, 2020

Growing, evolving and sticking in a flowing environment: understanding IgA interactions with bacteria in the gut

Daniel Hoces, Markus Arnoldini, Médéric Diard, Claude Loverdo and Emma Wetter Slack

Immunology, vol. 159: no. 1, pp. 52-62, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2020

Meet the team

Alumni

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Dr. Kathrin Moor (PhD Student)

Regulatory Affairs Specialist, University Hospital Zurich

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    Sara Berent (Master Student)

    PhD Student, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne

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    Naomi Dünki (Master Student)

    Medical Science Liaison, Novartis (Japan)

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    Tobias Geiser (Bachelor Student)

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    Dr. Corina Matthew (Postdoc)

    Felllow in Clinical Development, Novartis (Switzerland)

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    Basak Corak (Master Student)

    PhD Student, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich

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    Daria Künzli (Master Student)

    Research Assistant, Igis

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    Alicia Halbach (Intern)

    Bachelor Student, University College London

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    Katja Sommer (Intern)

    Master Student, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich

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    Helena Schmitt (Master Student)

    Research Intern, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich (Mathys Group)

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    Ioana Domocos (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich

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    Elena Melgarejo Ros (Semester Project Student)

    Intern, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich (Hardt Group)

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    Julien Huttman (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Nina Zuber (Intern)

    Medical Student, ETH Zurich

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    Raffael Schumann (Research Assistant)

    Research Assistant, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, England)

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    Lucas Piech (Master Student)

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    Ursina Enz (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Gianna La Regina (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Julien Chabbey (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Daniel Hoces Burga (PhD Student)

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University (USA)

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    Joelle Kägi (Master Student)

    CMC Development Associate, LimmaTech Biologics AG (Schlieren)

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    Till Germerdonk (Intern)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Erica Faccin (Research Technician & Laboratory Manager)

    Radio Oncology Research Technician, University Hospital Zurich

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    Michael Berger (Semester Project Student)

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    Stefanie Oswald (Master Student, Intern)

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    Tea Sonicki (Intern)

    PhD Student, University of Sorbonne

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    Ali Ahmed (Master Student)

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    Florian Stückelberger (Master Student)

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    Benjamin Meier (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Kai Hofmänner (Master Student)

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    Patrizia Burkhard (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Caroline Xu (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Nina Maire (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Jens Scheidegger

    Biomedical Scientist, University Hospital Balgrist

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    Valentina Monnerat (Master Student)

    Intern, EPFL

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    Johanna Zehnder (Master Student)

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    Isabella Aigner (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Jasmine Kaur (Semester Project Student)

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    Paula Düllmann (Master Student)

    Intern, Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office

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    Sofia Sponda (Master Student)

    Intern, Nestlé

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    Sandra Garibay (Semester Project Student)

    Lab Assistant, ETH Zurich

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    Shirin de Viragh (Intern)

    Medical Student, ETH Zurich

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    Jana Näf (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Jacqueline Rehner (PhD Exchange Student)

    PhD Student, Saarland University

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    Nadia Yorke (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Nicola Realini (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Eva Rigendinger (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Michelle Knecht (Semester Project Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Despoina Dimakou (Semester Student)

    Master Student, ETH Zurich

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    Paula Wagner (Semester Project Student)

    Bachelor Student, ETH Zurich

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    Jackie Raïssa Ndem (PhD Student)

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    Dr. Verena Lentsch (PhD Student)

    Postdoc, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford

    Media

    Women in Science – Prof. Emma Slack

    Interview from the Swiss Young Immunologist Society with Emma. Learn about Emma's passion for immunology, why Emma wanted to become a scientist and how diversity can benefit science.

    Botnar Research Centre for Child Health introducing MIP

    Check out the latest video from the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH) introducing the multi-investigator research project led by Prof Emma Slack, ETH Zurich. Two very serious diseases of newborns – namely, inborn errors of metabolism and neonatal sepsis – currently have high mortality rates, long-term consequences for child development and limited treatment options. The project seeks to develop novel intervention strategies for these diseases using advancements in microbiota bioengineering.

    Botnar Research Centre for Child Health

    Have a look at the video of the BRCCH introducing itself and its mission. It also includes some insights into the different research projects that have received funding in their multi-investigator project call in 2019.

    SRF Puls on vaccine research

    Watch the SRF Puls coverage on our research on Corona virus vaccines.

    Impfung treibt Salmonellen in die Evolutions-Falle

    Schädliche Darmbakterien mutieren und machen uns so das Leben schwer. Doch die Mutationen könnten ihnen auch zum Verhängnis werden.

    A rationally designed oral vaccine induces immunoglobulin A in the murine gut that directs the evolution of attenuated Salmonella variants

    Intestinal antibodies (IgA) can exert selective pressure on intestinal bacteria. Via oral vaccines, we can manipulate these selective pressures to force evolution of Salmonella that are impaired in transmitting disease. This new vaccination strategy could be used to prevent disease caused by antibiotic-resistant intestinal bacteria.