Harmful gut bacteria linked to alcohol-related liver damage
The role of pathobionts in alcoholic liver disease
This work looks at whether certain harmful gut bacteria make liver disease worse in people who drink heavily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA San Diego Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11212762 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers compare gut bacteria in stool from people with alcoholic hepatitis, people with alcohol use disorder, and people without liver disease using metagenomic sequencing. They focus on an E. coli gene called kpsM that helps the bacteria hide from liver immune cells and has been linked to worse outcomes. Lab experiments study how kpsM-positive E. coli interacts with liver immune cells and use germ-free mice given patient stool to see if those bacteria worsen alcohol-related liver injury. If you join, you may be asked to provide stool and clinical samples to help link your gut microbes to liver inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with alcohol use disorder or alcoholic hepatitis, particularly Veterans receiving care at the San Diego VA who can provide stool and blood samples, are the most suitable candidates.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-related liver disease or whose liver problems arise from unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that target harmful gut bacteria to reduce liver inflammation and improve outcomes for people with alcohol-related liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have connected microbiome changes to alcoholic liver disease and animal work supports a bacterial role, but targeting specific bacterial virulence genes like kpsM is a more recent and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schnabl, Bernd G. — VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Schnabl, Bernd G.
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.