High-detail mapping of bacterial DNA marks in the microbiome
High Resolution Characterization of Bacterial Epigenomes and Microbiome
This project reads tiny chemical tags on bacteria’s DNA to tell microbial strains apart and learn how gut germs change in digestive and infectious conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers use advanced long-read DNA sequencing to read both bacterial genomes and their chemical marks (DNA methylation) that act like barcodes for individual strains. They are mapping thousands of bacterial epigenomes and applying these methylation barcodes to get strain-level views of complex microbiomes and to link mobile DNA elements like plasmids to their host bacteria. The team studies how these DNA marks change when bacteria face stresses such as antibiotics or host environments. The goal is to build clearer maps of who’s in the gut and how microbes adapt, which could inform future diagnostics and therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with digestive tract disorders, recurrent or antibiotic-resistant infections, or anyone willing to provide stool or other microbiome samples for research.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to the microbiome or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than contributing samples may not directly benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable more precise detection of harmful bacterial strains, improve tracking of antibiotic resistance, and inform personalized microbiome-based treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related long-read methylation mapping approaches have already produced thousands of bacterial epigenomes and shown promise, but translating these findings into clinical care is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fang, Gang — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Fang, Gang
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.