How certain gut bacteria change lymph vessels and local immune responses
Dissecting microbiota-driven lymphangiogenesis in immune health and disease
This project looks at how specific gut microbes can change lymphatic growth and immune cell clusters in the gut, which may matter for people with colorectal cancer, IBD, or autoimmune conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139601 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory and animal experiments to follow how a gut bacterium called Helicobacter hepaticus promotes growth of lymphatic vessels and formation of immune cell clusters in the colon. They will map when and where the signals appear, identify the immune cells involved, and test whether microbes act directly or indirectly to drive these changes. The team combines imaging, cellular analysis, and molecular profiling to link bacterial presence with changes in lymphatic and immune tissues. These experiments aim to reveal mechanisms that could be relevant to human gut diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or autoimmune gut-related conditions who are interested in microbiome-related research would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without gut-related immune problems or children under age 21 are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to treat or prevent gut-related cancers and inflammatory or autoimmune diseases by targeting specific bacteria or the lymphatic signals they trigger.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including the investigators' own work, have shown some gut bacteria can spur lymphatic growth and immune infiltration into tumors, but applying these findings to human disease is still new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Overacre-Delgoffe, Abigail E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Overacre-Delgoffe, Abigail E
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.