How common gut bacteria change during inflammation
Bacterial adaptions in host-microbe interactions.
Researchers are looking at how inflammation changes common gut bacteria in people with IBD and whether those changes make inflammation worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this project studies how the inflamed gut environment alters common bacteria such as Bacteroides fragilis. Researchers will compare bacterial genes and metabolism from patient samples and use lab models to see how these changes affect immune responses. The team will combine genome sequencing, metabolic tests, and immune experiments to trace which bacterial adaptations promote ongoing inflammation. Findings are intended to point toward targeted microbiome-based treatments for IBD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) who can provide stool or tissue samples and attend clinic visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without IBD or those unwilling to provide biological samples are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new microbial-based treatments that prevent or lessen IBD flares by stopping harmful bacterial changes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous microbiome therapies like fecal transplants and probiotics have shown mixed results, and this work is a more detailed, mechanistic effort to guide better-targeted approaches.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chu, Hiutung — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Chu, Hiutung
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.