Gut bacteria that worsen colitis
Official title: Exacerbation of colitis by the microbiota
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11319307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether common antibiotics and processed foods change gut bacteria so a sugar alcohol called sorbitol builds up and makes colitis worse, and whether probiotics or enzyme pills can help people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2015 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,952,788 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI112445-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory bowel disease—especially ulcerative colitis or other forms of colitis, and those with a history of early-life antibiotics or diets high in processed foods or artificial sweeteners—would be the most relevant future participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBD or those whose disease is driven by factors unrelated to gut microbes or sugar‑alcohol metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have IBD, researchers are using a new mouse model that behaves like human colitis to see how antibiotics and high‑fat or processed diets cut back helpful Clostridia bacteria and allow sorbitol to accumulate in the gut. They will measure changes in gut bacteria, sorbitol levels, water movement in the intestines, and markers of inflammation, and then try fixes such as probiotic bacteria or oral enzymes that break down sorbitol. The goal is to find simple ways to prevent the sorbitol buildup that worsens inflammation and to point toward treatments or diet changes that could reduce flares for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to probiotic or enzyme-based treatments and clearer dietary advice to help prevent or reduce colitis flares.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies have linked antibiotics, high‑fat diets, and microbiota loss to increased IBD risk, but targeting sorbitol buildup with probiotics or oral enzymes is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baumler, Andreas J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Baumler, Andreas J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut bacteria and immune causes of colitis from CTLA-4 cancer therapy
This project looks at how gut bacteria and immune responses cause bowel inflammation in people getting CTLA-4 cancer antibodies so we can find ways to prevent or treat it.
-
Gut bacteria and colorectal cancer risk in people with ulcerative colitis
Researchers are looking at whether certain gut bacteria help protect against or promote colorectal cancer in people who have ulcerative colitis.
-
Investigating how gut bacteria affect colitis caused by cancer treatments
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut and your immune system work together when you're getting a specific cancer treatment, to see why some people develop colitis, which is a painful inflammation that can interrupt their therapy, and the goal is to find ways to prevent or manage this issue for patients
-
Understanding how gut bacteria influence colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might influence the risk of developing colorectal cancer if you have ulcerative colitis, and it aims to find out which types of bacteria could help protect you or possibly increase that risk.
-
Diet, gut microbiome, and immune health in adults with type 2 diabetes
A study at Stanford is exploring how fermented foods and their molecules, like lactate, influence gut bacteria and the body's immune and inflammatory responses in adults with adult-onset diabetes.
-
How our genes and immune system affect C. difficile infections
This project looks at how a common human gene variant and immune factors influence the severity of C. difficile infections and whether targeting inflammation could help patients.
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.