The Microbiome’s Secret Handshake: How bacterial EVs hijack immunity and harm the liver in IBD

Prof. Claudia Günther from Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany, will present "The Microbiome’s Secret Handshake: How bacterial EVs hijack immunity and harm the liver in IBD" during the 2nd World Congress on Targeting Exosomes, which will be organized on October 15-16, 202,5, in Valencia, Spain.

Summary

Prof. Claudia Günther from the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen will explore the role of bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) as critical mediators of immune dysregulation and liver pathology in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Her research focuses on the dynamic interaction between the gut microbiota and the host immune system, with particular emphasis on the contribution of microbial EVs to inflammation in the gut and peripheral organs.

In her talk, Prof. Günther will present data demonstrating how specific bEVs derived from gut pathobionts can enter systemic circulation and target the liver, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated liver damage. These vesicles carry a defined set of immunogenic cargo that modulates innate and adaptive immune responses, independently of canonical LPS signaling. These findings open new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting microbial EVs in IBD-associated liver disease.

The presentation will provide mechanistic insights and diagnostic strategies derived from integrated analyses of preclinical animal models and patient-derived in vitro systems. A particular focus will be placed on the identification and functional profiling of vesicle-associated molecular patterns and their role in driving maladaptive immune responses along the gut–liver axis. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of innovative diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic interventions that modulate microbial EV activity in IBD-associated hepatobiliary disease.

Targeting EVs Congress
October 15-16, 2025 - Valencia, Spain
www.targeting-exosomes.com