Reber group
- Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunology (PNEI)
- Chronic psychosocial stress
- Inflammation
- „Old Friends“
- Urban vs. rural
The Reber Laboratory has strong expertise in Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunology (PNEI) and investigates in a transdisciplinary, translational and intergenerational approach the role of microorganisms with which mammals have coevolved (“Old Friends”) in psychosomatic health and Brain-Body Interactions.
Our preclinical studies focus on the molecular and microbiome-related mechanisms underlying the trauma/stress resilience promoting effects of Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae) NCTC 11695 and M. vaccae ATCC 15483T, environmental saprophytes from mud/cow milk with immunoregulatory properties.
Our clinical studies focus on the molecular and microbiome-related mechanisms underlying the stress/trauma protective effects of rural vs. urban upbringing and of regular contact with animals or probiotics (i.e., Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938) in individuals raised in an urban environment.
According to the “Old Friends” hypothesis, deficits in immunoregulation are due to reduced contact with harmless microorganisms that accompanied mammalian evolution in high abundance and had to be tolerated by an individual’s immune system to avoid damage caused by chronic inflammatory processes. These “Old Friend” organisms promote their own survival and, as a beneficial side effect, the mental and somatic health of their host by facilitating immunoregulation.
