Award details

Analysis of gut microbiota and its role in health and disease

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042241
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Arjan Narbad
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	508,500
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2009
End date	31/03/2010
Duration	12 months

Abstract

The human GI tract contains a complex array of bacteria with as many as 1000 bacterial species. We now know that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in the maintenance of gut health in both humans and animals. In this project we will compare the microbial ecology of the GI tract of healthy volunteers with those of the patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. We will use the culture independent molecular profiling methods to analyse the gut bacteria and isolate key strains that are either protective or have a proinflammatory functions. We will undertake genome sequencing of the key gut bacteria such as Bacteroides ovatus as well as a strain of Lactobacillus johnsonii that has been identified as competitive excluder of human gut pathogens. We will undertake detailed molecular genetic studies to identify the mechanisms of competitive exclusion process. Once the genome analysis has been completed we will use in vitro colon model systems to study the interactions between the gut commensal bacteria and food pathogens.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Diet and Health, Microbial Food Safety, Microbiology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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