Decoding microbiome-host crosstalk: Metabolomic insights in steatotic liver disease

Maria Effenberger, PD Dr.
Gastroenterologie & Hepatologie
Medical University Innsbruck | Austria
Part of the webinar
Microbiome and disease - Insights through the lens of the metabolome
Title
Decoding microbiome-host crosstalk: Metabolomic insights in steatotic liver disease
Abstract
The intricate interplay between the gut microbiome and the host plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of steatotic liver diseases, which are characterized by significant alterations in the gut microbiome. However, the precise mechanisms by which the microbiome influences disease behavior and progression remain poorly understood. Previous studies have highlighted that metabolic interdependencies between microorganisms, particularly auxotrophies, are widespread in the human microbiome and are disrupted in chronic diseases. Metabolomics, as a critical pathway linking the intestinal microbiome to the host, offers a transformative approach to exploring microbiome-host crosstalk.
This talk will examine how metabolomics decodes the complex interactions between the microbiome and host, identifying key pathways and biomarkers that drive disease progression. By integrating microbiome composition with metabolomic profiles, we aim to provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of steatotic liver disease and its advanced stages, including MASLD and MASH, while exploring potential therapeutic avenues.
Bio
Maria Effenberger brings extensive expertise in studying microbial host interactions in liver disease and their impact on disease progression. Her research has been featured in leading international journals, including Nature, Hepatology Communications, Gut, and the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Following her clinical training in Germany, she returned to the Medical University of Innsbruck to launch her scientific career in Prof. Tilg's Gastroenterology and Inflammation Laboratory, focusing on microbiome-host interactions and inflammation pathways.
Maria Effenberger has significantly contributed to both basic and clinical research projects, exploring microbial and metabolomic pathways in cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammation. Her recent work includes co-authoring a manuscript on microbial auxotrophies and their influence on metabolomic pathways in MASH, currently under review.
biocrates.com