How Sugars Affect Helpful Gut Bacteria and Their Viruses
Mechanism and application of sugar-induced phage production by the probiotic gut symbiont Lactobacillus reuteri
This project explores how dietary sugars change the helpful bacteria in our gut and their viruses, aiming to improve probiotic treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128702 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our gut contains many helpful bacteria, like Lactobacillus reuteri, and also viruses that infect them, called phages. This project looks at how the sugars we eat can change these phages and affect the helpful bacteria in our gut. We want to understand these interactions better so we can use diet to make probiotics work more effectively. Ultimately, this knowledge could help us develop new ways to use probiotics to deliver medicines or improve gut health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not currently involve patient participation, but future applications may target individuals seeking to improve gut health or receive targeted therapies.
Not a fit: Patients not interested in gut microbiome modulation or probiotic-based therapies may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for using diet to enhance the effectiveness of probiotics and potentially deliver medicines directly to the gut.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of diet influencing gut microbiota is established, this specific focus on sugar-induced phage production in probiotics for therapeutic delivery is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Pijkeren, Jan-Peter — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Van Pijkeren, Jan-Peter
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.