Helsingin yliopisto

General Introduction

Our research is focusing on molecular biology of intestinal microbiota, on host-microbe interactions and lactic acid bacteria as vaccine vectors and probiotics for the prevention of porcine post-weaning diarrhoea and other intestinal infections. We also work towards the development of high-throughput molecular methods for microbial diagnostics and participate in the nanobiotechnology project of Lactobacillus S-layers and their applications as vaccine platforms.

Professor Willem M. de Vos from the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands, is appointed as a  Finland Distinguished Professor Programme (FiDiPro) professor at the University of Helsinki in Professor Airi Palva's research team for 2007-2011. FiDiPro is funded by Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) and the Academy of Finland to recruit top foreign researchers to Finland.  

FiDiPro´s  research aims to advance our understanding of intestinal health by focusing on the intestinal bacteria and their expression products. University of Helsinki, University of Turku and University of Wageningen as well as an industry consortium consisting of Finnish food and pharma companies participate in the project.