Gut bacteria and tryptophan's role in lupus
Official title: Gut dysbiosis and tryptophan metabolism in lupus
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11238996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changes in gut bacteria and tryptophan metabolism may drive immune activity in people with systemic lupus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | January 19, 2019 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $531,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI143313-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly those with lupus nephritis or recent disease flares, would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without lupus or whose disease is not linked to gut microbial changes would be unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers compare gut microbes and blood samples from people with lupus and healthy volunteers to find bacterial changes linked to flares. They focus on expansions of Ruminococcus gnavus, antibodies to a bacterial lipoglycan, and levels of tryptophan-derived metabolites that may come from gut bacteria. In mouse experiments they transfer patient-derived microbiota to see whether these changes cause autoantibodies and CD4+ T cell activation. The team combines human sample analysis with animal models to connect microbial signals and metabolism to lupus immune responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to microbiome- or metabolism-based tests and therapies to prevent or reduce lupus flares.
How similar studies have gone: Previous patient and mouse studies have found altered gut microbes in lupus and shown that Ruminococcus gnavus can trigger autoantibodies in mice, so this approach builds on encouraging but still emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morel, Laurence — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Morel, Laurence
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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The role of gut bacteria and tryptophan in lupus
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut and how your body processes tryptophan might affect lupus, a condition that can cause your immune system to attack itself, by comparing the gut bacteria of people with lupus to those who are healthy, to find out if certain bacteria could be making your symptoms wors
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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.