How certain gut protists help protect our gut health
Official title: Protective impacts of commensal protists on the human gut microbiome
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11061048 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tiny organism called Blastocystis that lives in our gut to see if it can help protect us from gut inflammation, and it's for anyone interested in how our gut health can be improved by understanding the good roles these organisms might play.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | March 22, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $107,129 |
| NIH project number | 5K22AI173181-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061048 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with gut health issues or those interested in understanding the role of their gut microbiome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any gut health concerns or those who are not interested in microbiome research may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of commensal protists, specifically Blastocystis, in the human gut microbiome and their potential protective effects against gut inflammation. The study aims to understand how these protists interact with gut bacteria and the human host by analyzing their genomes and exploring mechanisms such as bacterial predation and metabolite production. By generating high-quality genomic data, the research seeks to challenge the traditional view that these protists are harmful and instead highlight their beneficial roles in gut health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into gut health and the development of therapies that harness the protective effects of commensal protists.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of bacteria in the microbiome has been extensively studied, the investigation of commensal protists is relatively novel, suggesting this research could pave the way for new discoveries.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lind, Abigail — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Lind, Abigail
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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.