Gut bacteria lipids that calm immune cells
Gut symbiotic microbiota-derived CD1d ligands and their immunomodulatory mechanisms
Researchers are looking at whether natural fat molecules made by friendly gut bacteria can calm a type of immune cell and reduce harmful gut inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11091418 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will study special lipid molecules produced by the common gut microbe Bacteroides fragilis and how those lipids are shown to immune cells by a molecule called CD1d. They will determine the chemical structures, create synthetic versions, and test how these lipids change the behavior and growth of NKT immune cells in lab and animal experiments. The team will use lipid chemistry, structural biology, and immune-cell assays to identify which molecules give calming versus activating signals. The goal is to understand mechanisms that might later guide development of gentler treatments for intestinal inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with immune-driven gut inflammation (for example, inflammatory bowel disease) or those willing to donate stool or blood samples for microbiome and immune studies would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are due to structural issues, non-immune causes, or conditions unrelated to the gut microbiome are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to gently control immune responses in the gut and eventually lead to therapies for inflammatory bowel conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown that some bacterial lipids can shape NKT-cell responses and the investigators previously identified Bacteroides fragilis lipids with regulatory activity, so this work builds on promising but still early findings.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oh, Sungwhan F — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Oh, Sungwhan F
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 below.