Research direction

　　The general purpose of my current studies is to fullfill the gaps of knowledge of the immune system during the first 1,000 days of life in the evolving context of the microbial colonization following birth. The use of high-end technologies in pediatric immunology offers a potent mean to investigate the impact of human microbiota on child health and disease. My latest achievements concern the characterization of immune biomarkers of disease severity in bronchiolitis and in neonatal sepsis, with a particular focus on unique regulatory aspects of the perinatal immune system. The contribution of environmental factors during pregnancy, such as mild or chronic infectious diseases, malnutrition or medication, in the development of the newborn immunity, represents an important line of research as well.