Metabolic profiling following immunological perturbations: comparison across individuals from different geographical areas

Abstract

Madeleine Eunice Betouke Ongwe's thesis, "Metabolic profiling following immunological perturbations: comparison across individuals from different geographical areas," investigates metabolic responses to immunological challenges in populations with distinct geographical, microorganism, and parasite exposures. The research focuses on Sub-Saharan African and European individuals, aiming to identify metabolic differences that influence immune responses to vaccines and infection. Using metabolomics, a technique to analyze metabolites in biological samples, the study evaluates immune responses by profiling metabolites in urine, plasma, and immune cells. The work examines baseline metabolic profiles and changes after immune triggers such as vaccination with hookworm vaccine candidates and controlled human malaria infection. It highlights the interplay between metabolism and immune response, emphasizing how geographical location and microbial exposure shape immune responses.

Overall, the thesis advances the field of immunometabolism by exploring how metabolic pathways influence immune function and demonstrating the importance of metabolic profiling in understanding population-specific immune signatures.