Seminar: "Decoding microbe-neuron crosstalk in host defense" - Liwen Deng, Ph.D.

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

 Fermentation Club Seminar Series | Fall 2026

Speaker: Liwen Deng, Ph.D., Rutgers University

Host: Jeffrey Boyd, Ph.D.

Title: Decoding microbe-neuron crosstalk in host defense

Abstract: The ability to sense and respond to harmful stimuli is critical for health and tissue homeostasis. A primary function of the nervous system is to integrate exogenous threats and endogenous signals to coordinate a protective host response. Sensory neurons densely innervate all tissue barriers where they can detect signals of infection and regulate inflammation. We have recently discovered that bacteria can directly activate neurons to drive itch, a debilitating sensation that occurs primarily in the skin. While it has long been appreciated that the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is linked to itchy skin conditions, whether and how microbes influence itch was previously unknown. We show that epicutaneous exposure to S. aureus elicits robust itch, and scratching behavior exacerbates skin inflammation. Further investigating the response of the somatosensory nervous system to bacteria will continue to reveal novel mechanisms of host defense as well as virulence strategies of pathogens. Studying microbe-neuron crosstalk can also identify novel therapeutic pathways to modulate neuroimmune signaling to treat infection, immunological diseases, and chronic itch and pain conditions.