How Microbes Change and Adapt in Different Environments
Using Experimental Evolution to Evaluate Environmental Effects on Microbial Mutation and Adaptation
This research explores how bacteria in our bodies and nature adapt to changing food availability, like times of plenty followed by scarcity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138679 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies and natural environments often present microbes with changing conditions, such as when nutrients are abundant or scarce. This project looks at how these 'feast and famine' cycles affect how bacteria evolve and change over time. We want to understand how factors like oxygen levels influence these adaptations, using common bacteria like E. coli and Lactobacillus crispatus. By studying these changes in the lab, we hope to learn more about how microbes survive and thrive in complex environments, including inside us.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research does not directly involve patient participation, but future clinical applications could benefit individuals with communicable diseases or microbiome imbalances.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention for their conditions will not receive direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how microbes adapt to changing conditions could help us better manage communicable diseases and promote a healthier balance of bacteria in the human body.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have explored microbial adaptation to starvation, and this work builds on that knowledge by focusing on how resource replenishment and oxygen availability affect evolution.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Behringer, Megan Grace — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Behringer, Megan Grace
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.