Low-oxygen effects on the gut lining's virus defenses
Influence of hypoxia on the antiviral functions of human intestinal epithelial cells
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · NIH-11312700
This project looks at how low oxygen in parts of the gut changes how intestinal cells fight common viruses like norovirus and rotavirus.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11312700 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will grow human intestinal tissues in the lab using organoids and gut-on-a-chip devices and expose them to common enteric viruses such as rotavirus and norovirus. They will compare how these tissues respond under normal oxygen levels and under low-oxygen (hypoxic) conditions that naturally occur at the tips of intestinal villi. The team will use primary human intestinal epithelial cells and modern microfluidic systems to measure antiviral innate immune responses and identify molecular pathways affected by hypoxia. The aim is to find targets or strategies that could help the gut lining better resist viral infections, especially in children and immunocompromised patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had severe or recurrent viral gastroenteritis (for example from rotavirus or norovirus) or who are immunocompromised would be most relevant for sample donation or future clinical follow-up from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to the gut or who do not face enteric viral infections are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to strengthen the gut lining or guide treatments that reduce severe diarrheal illness from enteric viruses.
How similar studies have performed: Organoids and gut-on-a-chip approaches have been successfully used to study gut biology, but applying these tools to understand how hypoxia alters antiviral defenses is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA — GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BOULANT, STEEVE — UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- Study coordinator: BOULANT, STEEVE
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.