The main research lines are society higly relevant topics, such as air pollution, anti-microbial resistance, COPD and Asthma. The focus is use-inspired fundamental pathophysiological and immunopharmacological research on chronic inflammatory diseases and viral/bacterial infections. Validated preclinical In Vitro and In Vivo models, with respect to the gastrointestinal and respiratory system, are used for translational research and valorization of new drug entities and food concepts to be used by humans and animals in the future. 

Selection of recent papers:

1: Wang L, Cai Y, Garssen J, Henricks PAJ, Folkerts G, Braber S. The bidirectional gut-lung axis in COPD. Am Rev Respir Crit Care Med. 2023;207(9).

2: Keulers L, Dehanghani A, Knippels L, Garssen J, Papadopoulos N, Folkerts G, Braber S, van Bergenhenegouwen J. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to prevent or combat air polution concequences. The gut-lung axis. Environ Pollut. 2022;302:119066.

3: Cay Y, Folkerts G, Braber S. Non-digestible oligosaccharides: A novel treatment for respiratory diseases? Nutrients. 2022;149230:5033.

4: Mavrogeni ME, Asadpoor M, Henricks PAJ, Keshavarzian A, Folkerts G, Braber S. Direct action of non-digestible oligosaccharides against a leaky gut. Nutrients. 2022;14(21);4699.

5: Cai Y, van Putten JPM, Gilbert MS, Folkerts G, Braber S. Galacto-oligosaccharides as an anti-bacterial and anti-invasive agent in lung infections. Biomaterials. 2022; 283;121461.

6: Cai Y, Gilbert MS, Gerrits WJJ, Folkerts G, Braber S. Galacto-oligosaccharides alleviate lung inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome actiation in vitro and in vivo. J Adv Res. 2022;39:305-318.

7: van Daal MT, Folkerts G, Garssen J, Braber S. Pharmacological modulation of immune responses by nutritional components. Pharmacol Rev. 2021;73(4):198-232.

8:  Janbazacyabar H, van Daal M, Leusink-Muis T, van Ark I, Garssen J, Folkerts G, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Braber S. The effect of maternal smoking on pregnancy and offspring: Possible role for EGF? Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Aug 16;9:680902.

9: Jambazacyabar H, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Leusink-Muis T, van Ark I, van Daal MT, Folkerts G, Braber S. Prenatal and postnatal cigarette smoke exposure is assiciated with increased risk of exacerbated allergic airway immune responses: A preclinical approach. Front Immunol. 2021;12:797376.

10. Zuurveld M, van Witzenburg NP, Garssen J, Folkerts G, Stahl B, Van't Land B, Willemsen LEM. Immunomodulation bu human milk oligosaccharides: The potential role in prevention of allergic diseases. Front Immunol. 2020;11:801.

11: Folkerts J, Redegeld F, Folkerts G, Blokhuis B, van den Berg MPM, de Bruijn MJW, van IJcken WFJ, Junt T, Tam SY, Galli SJ, Hendriks RW, Stadhouders R, Maurer M. Butyrate inhibits human mast cell activation via epigenetic regulation of FcεRI-mediated signaling. Allergy. 2020;75(8):1966-1978.. 
 
12: Cai Y, Folkerts J, Folkerts G, Maurer M, Braber S. Microbiota-dependent and-independent effects of dietary fibre on human health. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Mar;177(6):1363-1381.