How Gut Bacteria Adapt and Settle in the Human Body
Evolutionary Dynamics of the Human Gut Microbiome During Colonization
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11113872
This project aims to understand how bacteria in the gut adapt and establish themselves after treatments like fecal microbiome transplants.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11113872 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
When we receive new gut bacteria, such as through a fecal transplant, sometimes they don't settle in properly, and we don't fully understand why. This project seeks to uncover how these new bacteria adapt and change over time to successfully make a home in our gut. Researchers will develop new statistical methods to analyze genetic information from gut bacteria, helping us see how they evolve and interact with existing microbes. This understanding is crucial for figuring out why some gut microbiome treatments work and others don't, ultimately helping to make them more successful for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation but aims to benefit patients undergoing or considering gut microbiome therapies, especially fecal microbiome transplants.
Not a fit: Patients not interested in or not candidates for gut microbiome therapies may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective fecal microbiome transplants and other gut microbiome therapies by understanding how to help beneficial bacteria colonize the gut.
How similar studies have performed: While experimental evolution studies in animal models have shown the importance of adaptation for colonization, the role of rapid adaptation in human gut microbiome colonization is less understood and is a novel focus of this statistical methods development.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GARUD, NANDITA — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: GARUD, NANDITA
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.