Diet-friendly gut bacteria: testing high-fiber ideas to boost infection resistance
Official title: Leveraging in vitro Models to Study Diet-Mediated Changes to Enteric Pathogen Infection Resistance
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-11599500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team will test how high-fiber foods and specific dietary fibers can help the gut microbiome protect against gut infections using a fast, lab-based model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $220,389 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM125498-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11599500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at higher risk for enteric infections who could benefit from improved gut infection resistance through diet.
✕Less likely to help
People without concerns about gut infection risk or those unable to alter their diet may see limited personal benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will develop a high-throughput batch culture system that uses a healthy human-derived gut microbiome and a model pathogen, Salmonella Enteritidis, to screen dietary fiber extracts. They will test how different fibers influence microbe-microbe interactions and host defense signals that affect infection resistance. The project also aims to explore organ-on-a-chip models to study spatial interactions between microbes and the gut lining. The goal is to identify fiber components that could be developed into user-friendly supplements for people at higher risk of enteric infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new dietary strategies or supplements that strengthen gut defenses against intestinal infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous high-throughput microbiome studies have shown that diet can shift microbial communities and function, supporting this approach as promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brasino, Danielle Stephanie Konetski — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Brasino, Danielle Stephanie Konetski
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.