How gut bacteria sense and use complex sugars
Two-Component System Design Principles
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11333302
This work looks at how common gut bacteria recognize and break down complex sugars from food and the gut lining, which can influence digestion and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11333302 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will study Bacteroides, a major gut microbe, to find the genes and regulators that control how these bacteria capture and digest different complex carbohydrates. They will use genomic tools, molecular assays, and techniques like ChIP-seq to map which regulator proteins (hybrid two-component systems) turn on specific carbohydrate-use genes. Lab experiments with bacterial strains and genetic manipulation will test how these regulators respond to different dietary and host sugars. Results will help explain how diet shapes the microbiome and its effects on human health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to provide stool samples or join microbiome research, especially those with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic gastrointestinal symptoms interested in microbiome-based insights.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment or those without gastrointestinal concerns are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to modify the gut microbiome or diet to improve digestion, reduce gut inflammation, and support personalized nutrition approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have mapped bacterial carbohydrate pathways, but pinpointing the specific hybrid regulators controlling polysaccharide utilization in Bacteroides is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: STOCK, ANN M. — RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: STOCK, ANN M.
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.