How certain chemicals affect gut bacteria and defense against gut infections
Official title: Understanding the Impact of Xenobiotic Metabolism on the Gut Microbiome and Resilience against Gastrointestinal Pathogens
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11399356 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how exposure to non-drug chemicals changes the gut’s trillions of bacteria and how that affects your chance of getting infections like Salmonella or cholera.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160154-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399356 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with gut health concerns or those exposed to environmental chemicals who are interested in how microbiome resilience affects infection risk.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without exposure concerns or interest in microbiome-chemical interactions may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project studies how xenobiotics and their breakdown products alter the gut microbiome’s composition and metabolism, and how these changes influence protection against gastrointestinal pathogens. Using a synthetic microbiome model and advanced metabolomics, researchers will explore how chemicals in our environment disrupt microbial functions that help defend the gut. The findings could reveal mechanisms that make infections more likely and point toward strategies to preserve gut resilience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better guidance on chemical exposures and new ways to strengthen gut defenses against infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that chemicals can alter gut microbiome composition, but this project aims for deeper mechanistic insight into metabolism and pathogen resilience.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petras, Daniel — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Petras, Daniel
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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.