Prof. Dr. Sebastian Suerbaum

My research group performs both basic and translational research aiming at better understanding, diagnosing, treating and preventing infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Our main focus is on the human gastric carcinogenic bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, where we use a combination of experimental approaches and comparative genomics to understand the genetic variability of H. pylori and its role in adapting the pathogen to its human host. Other projects study the genome of the most important human diarrheal pathogen in Germany, Campylobacter jejuni, and the role of the intestinal and gastric microbiota in health and disease.
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, spiral shaped bacterium, that selectively and chronically infects the gastric mucosa of humans. The clinical course of this infection can range from lifelong asymptomatic infection to severe disease including peptic ulcers, or gastric cancer. The high mutation rate and natural competence typical of this species are responsible for massive inter-strain genetic variation exceeding that observed in all other bacterial human pathogens. The adaptive value of such a plastic genome is thought to derive from a rapid exploration of the fitness landscape resulting in fast adaptation to the changing conditions of the gastric environment. Nevertheless, diversity is also lost through recurrent bottlenecks and H. pylori’s lifestyle is thus a perpetual race to maintain an appropriate pool of standing genetic variation able to withstand selection events.

Research Group Homepage:
https://www.mvp.uni-muenchen.de/en/microbiology/rg-suerbaum/