Milad AMERI
Ph.D. Candidate in Microbiology and Immunology
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Milad is focusing on gut tissue-based mechanisms in atopic dermatitis and food allergies. With a background in neuroscience (MSc, University of Geneva) and computer engineering (BSc, Amirkabir University of Technology), he integrates computational and biological approaches in his research.
Milad has worked as a bioinformatician at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research and has experience as a software developer. His research contributions span immunology, dermatology, and computational biology, with publications in leading journals.
Investigating the Gut-Skin Connection in Atopic Dermatitis and Food Allergies
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin condition, often linked to food allergies (FA). While it is well established that skin barrier damage in AD can lead to food sensitization, recent evidence suggests that the gut may also play a crucial role in this process. Our study investigates whether gut barrier damage and changes in immune cell activity contribute to the development of AD and FA. By analyzing gut tissue samples from adults with AD, FA, or both, we aim to uncover how gut-based immune changes may influence skin inflammation and vice versa. Using advanced techniques such as transcriptomics and imaging mass cytometry, we seek to determine whether AD patients have a “leaky gut” that allows allergens and microbes to trigger inflammation, and how the immune system in the gut responds, potentially exacerbating skin symptoms. By this we uncovering novel immune biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could lead to improved treatment strategies.
We collected gut tissue samples from two key regions, the duodenum and the terminal ileum, to ensure a thorough investigation of gut-related mechanisms in AD and FA. In parallel, we initiated two major experimental approaches: Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) to examine the cellular composition of gut tissue and
targeted transcriptomics to analyze corresponding gene expression patterns. To achieve this, we designed and tested a panel of 38 antibodies, which we are currently using in the IMC experiments to visualize immune cell distribution and barrier integrity markers. In the transcriptomics phase, we extracted mRNA from the collected samples and applying targeted transcriptomic to see corresponding gene expressions.