Teresa Zelante

Teresa Zelante’s studies are primarily focused on microbe-host interactions. She has more than 20 years of experience in laboratory research focused on mechanisms of interaction between the host immune system and fungi. After many years in this field, she has achieved several milestones, suggesting that host immunology co-evolves with opportunistic pathogens through two balanced strategies: Resistance and Tolerance. In this regard, she has identified a previously unknown mechanism of tolerance that the host activates during fungal infection: tryptophan metabolism. She was a postdoc in Singapore, where her studies were focused on fungal-induced NFAT in myeloid cells. Her research is now focused on fungal immunology and interactions with the host microbiome. In 2017, she was the winner of the Research Prize ‘Programma Giovani Ricercatori Rita Levi Montalcini’. She is now Associate Professor of Immunology and General Pathology at the University of Perugia, Italy.

Tentative Title:

Functional Microbial Cliques in the oral mucosa underline oral dysbiosis and host susceptibility to Candida albicans infection following radio mucositis: the relevance of in vitro 3D tongue organoids

Pillar Topic/Subtopic:

PILLAR 1: FRONTIERS HEALTH & CLINICAL INNOVATIONS

TOPIC 1.4: Microbiome Breakthrough

1.4c: Host-Pathogen Interactions and Microbial Pathogenesis in Human and Animal Systems