Infection, Inflammation, Immunology and Microbiology
The four subjects immunology, infection, inflammation and microbiology are closely connected. Infections are caused by microorganisms, the immune system protects us against infections and immune responses also cause inflammation, which is involved in combating infection, but can, if stimulated in other ways, cause chronic inflammatory conditions.
Menu for this area
Research network in inflammation and immunology
KiiM, the Karolinska Inflammation and Immunology network, ties researchers in the field of immunology and inflammation at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital together.
Find information about seminar series, retreats, doctoral courses and more.
Research network in infection biology
The Infection Biology Network at Karolinska Institutet encompasses many of the departments at Solna and Felmingsberg campuses with an interest in infection biology research.
Find PIs and information on how to get involved.
Popular science, articles and features
Antibiotic resistance – the silent pandemic
Antibiotic resistance is sometimes referred to as the silent pandemic – a contagion that spreads without us really knowing its extent or severity. But research is in progress to find new ways of fighting bacteria. And as with COVID-19, everyone can help to reduce the spread – and save lives.
Attack as their best defence
They save lives, but were a long-debated mystery. Antibodies are always ready to protect us against invaders such as bacteria or coronavirus.
Curious about mRNA vaccines
The very first vaccines against the new corona virus are a breakthrough on several levels. Not only were they developed extremely fast, they are based on new technology whereby the vaccine primes the body’s immune system.
Curious about viruses
Some viruses make us sick, others are harmless stowaways, and some play an important part in our ecosystems. They can also be used for medical purposes and possibly as a weapon against multi-resistant bacteria.
Studying the role of bacteria in delivery
Children born by caesarean section have a different bacterial flora. Researcher Emma Fransson and her colleagues are now studying whether this can be restored to reduce the risk of allergies.
HIV an infectious disease like any other
He is one of the most sought-after experts in the world when it comes to forensic investigations of HIV transmission. But Jan Albert’s personal opinion is that it is wrong to criminalise the disease.
“A brand new way to treat inflammation”
Imagine an implant that sends electrical signals to a nerve, which in turn signals to the immune system to reduce inflammation in the body. It sounds like science fiction, but trials involving patients with chronic inflammation are underway.
Fighting the virus
Virus researcher Ali Mirazimi has dedicated himself full-time to the new coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic. However, in the midst of his work to identify new drugs and vaccines, he too was struck down with COVID-19.
”The lab is my frontline”
Immunologist Qiang Pan Hammarström coordinates an international research consortium that is working on three tracks to develop treatments against COVID-19. ”As a scientist, I feel it is my duty to try to find a cure against this virus", she says.
Autoimmunity
Bacteria – our friends
Foods allergy
Sepsis - The hidden killer
Tuberculosis
Vaccine research
Latest news in this area from KI
Some of our professors in the area
Studying the battle between cell and virus
Gerald McInerney researches the molecular-level battle between human cells and viruses. He is also a teacher who is passionate about developing the study of virology at KI.
Examining how the immune system is formed
Petter Brodin is a paediatrician and is researching the early deve- lopment of the immune system. His research can contribute to the development of new and more effective treatments, including for the prevention of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergies.
Epigenetics answers questions about multiple sclerosis
Maja Jagodic studies how the disease MS arises and why it affects people so differently. Research at an epigenetic level is appropriate both for understanding the disease and for finding new ways to treat it, she says.
Studying the link between oral health and cancer
The oral microbiome not only causes dental diseases, it also impacts on diseases elsewhere in the body. This is the focus of Margaret Sällberg Chen’s research, especially in relation to cancer.
Studying antibiotic use in dentistry
Bodil Lund is a dentist who is researching how the dental care services can help to stem antibiotic resistance by making more prudent use of antibiotics. Her work also includes the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular (TMJ or jaw joint) problems.
Studying the function and utility of exosomes
Exosomes are tiny particles secreted by cells. They are involved in important processes in the body and may have useful clinical applications, including improved cancer treatments. Susanne Gabrielsson is one of the veterans of this young field of research.
Studying unusual immunodeficiency
Yenan Bryceson researches certain types of primary immuno-deficiencies that lead to overactive parts of the immune system and severe illness. The goal is to understand human immunological diseases, establish accurate diagnostics and contribute to improved treatments.
Studying genetic causes of atopic dermatitis
When the skin barrier is defect, inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis can arise. Maria Bradley is engaged in research focusing on the genetic causes of the disease and how they vary in populations in different parts of the world.
When inflammation goes wrong
Helena Erlandsson Harris is conducting research into the chemical signals in the body that initiate and increase an inflammation.
Curious about the interaction between the immune system and microbiota
Harri Alenius is studying this interaction between the immune system and different microbiota – systems of microorganisms.
Previously unknown immune cells provide clues to IBD and asthma
Jenny Mjösberg researches innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a previously unknown part of the immune system. She wants to understand the part they play in different kinds of inflammatory disease, and ultimately contribute to new, improved therapies.
Studying the importance of oral health
Pedagogical issues, in both dental education and dental care, are along with patients’ experiences of periodontitis two main themes in Annsofi Johannsen’s research. She is also head of KI’s dental hygiene programme.
The interaction between B cells and macrophages
Mikael Karlsson researches the regulation of the immune system and why it sometimes becomes disrupted, leading to disease. He is particularly interested in B cells and macrophages.
Rare disease provides broader knowledge
Olle Kämpe is professor of clinical endocrinology and is researching autoimmunity. By studying specific diseases such as Addison's disease and APS-1, he wants to increase a broader understanding of how and why the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.
Aiming at more effective analgesic
Per-Johan Jakobsson wants to gain a better understanding of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism. His research may lead to more efficacious drugs for pain and fever in the long term.
The goal: to break the sequence of illness at an early stage
Vivianne Malmström is doing research to enable autoimmune diseases like rheumatism to be cured and prevented in the future.
Assessing the risk and treating resistant bacteria
Many people carry resistant bacteria in their gut, but relatively few get sick. Christian Giske is conducting research into the reason for this – who is at risk of becoming ill and how can the refractory bacteria be attacked?
Studying oral disease in the laboratory with biofilm models
Georgios Belibasakis researches the bacterial ecosystem of the mouth and how it can thrive in symbiosis with its host – or cause diseases such as caries, periodontitis and peri-implantitis.
How the immune system responds to vaccination
Karin Loré studies how the immune system responds to vaccination. In particular, she focuses on how immune-stimulating substances can induce stronger responses which is important for the development of vaccines to infections like hiv/aids and malaria.
Seeking simple methods for the early detection of periodontitis
Nagihan Bostanci builds three-dimensional model of gums in order to understand how mild gum inflammation can advance to tooth loss.