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R35 GM151045: Decoding Microbial Diversity

Microbial diversity matters, but why? This 5-year NIH/NIGMS funded project seeks to understand how microbial diversity shapes the function of microbial communities with a particular focus on genetic variation within species.

R01 ES038206: Environmental PFAS alter microbial function, impair host metabolism, and drive disease progression

PFAS are forever chemicals known for their widespread use and adverse effects on human health. Our work has uncovered that PFAS interact with gut microbes for both better and worse. Together with Co-PIs Yuan Tian, Jeff Peters, and Co-I Andrew PAtterson, we are solving the mysteries of how PFAS contribute to chronic disease.

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R00 AI147165: Diet-microbe interactions modulating host energy balance

There is a bi-directional relationship between diet and microbes. This project seeks to understand how caloric restriction shapes the microbiome and how these changes alter permissibility to C. difficile. We are also investigating how asymptomatic carriage with C. difficile impacts host energy balance to shine light on what “pathogens” might be doing when they are not pathogens.

Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO)

Humans have a complicated relationship with the metals in our diet. Some are essential nutrients, others are extremely toxic, and many are both. The gut microbiome has been shown to modulate how metals are absorbed but relatively little is known about which microbes are involved and/or the relationship between the microbial metal-metabolizing enzymes and the fate of dietary metals. This project aims to increase our understanding of the role microbes play in the bioavailability of dietary metals and generate new probiotic strains to enhance beneficial metal absorption while preventing the absorption of toxic metals.