Simone Becattini, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The native bacteria in our intestines can help protect our bodies from infection. Unfortunately, there are also “bad” bacteria that can infect and harm us. Patients with blood cancers, especially those taking immunosuppressive drugs after stem cell transplants, are at increased risk of infection and mortality due to food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).  

To determine how native gut bacteria influence Lm infections, Dr. Becattini is examining, in mice, how the immune system responds to Lm under various conditions to identify the bacterial species and molecules that provide protection. Furthermore, he’s supplementing these preclinical insights with patient data.

Overall, these insights may enable doctors to identify patients who might be at increased risk, and lead to novel approaches to prevent and treat Lm infections.

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