Vogl Laboratory

The interplay between the immune system and microbes in cancer

Dr. Thomas Vogl and his multidisciplinary team of molecular biologists, biochemists, and bioinformaticians are investigating which microbial and tumor factors are crucial for successful cancer therapies. The main focus lies on the investigation of antibody responses against the microbiome.

Meet the lab

Research directions

The gut microbiome and cancer

Some intestinal microbes benefit human health by boosting certain anti-cancer treatments. However, at the same time different bacterial strains have been linked to the occurrence of colorectal cancer. How the immune system differentiates between beneficial and harmful microbes, and how these aspects influence cancers, is only incompletely understood. A better understanding of the complex interaction between the intestinal microbes and our immune system could improve the prevention of cancer and pave the way towards novel therapeutics.

Inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with an increased cancer risk. It has increasingly been appreciated that both the microbiome and the immune system play key roles in IBD pathogenesis. Excessive immune reactions against harmless gut bacteria can lead to severe inflammation, affecting systemic health beyond the gut. We are aiming to understand the exact microbial targets of these immune responses, how they can be targeted in therapies, and how these processes ultimately can lead to cancer in a subset of patients.

Anti-viral immunity and human health

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has shifted the focus of the research community towards viral pathogens. But also many other viruses beyond corona viruses have been associated with different aspects of human health. For example, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infections are linked to the onset of multiple sclerosis, or human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cancers of the genitourinary system in both women and men. We are interested in the role of protective immune responses against human viruses and broadly neutralizing vaccines.

Tools built in the open

Software developed in the lab for PhIP-seq data: R packages, analysis pipelines, and the database behind our projects. Each package has its own documentation site.

Browse tools & docs

Papers: 11 selected publications
Tools: 10 packages, pipelines and services
People: 10 team members
Where: Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna