Role of gut E. coli in obesity and resistance to weight loss
Official title: The role of intestinal mucosal Escherichia coli in obesity and resistance to diet-induced weight loss
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11188873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study with people who are obese and those at a healthy weight will examine how certain gut bacteria, especially Escherichia coli, relate to obesity and how they may affect ability to lose weight on a calorie-restricted diet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1I01CX002659-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11188873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Obese adults (BMI > 30) and healthy weight adults (BMI 20-25) undergoing colonoscopy who do not have inflammatory or cancerous findings.
✕Less likely to help
People not undergoing colonoscopy or with inflammatory/neoplastic findings may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect tissue samples from the intestines of 100 participants undergoing colonoscopy, including 50 obese individuals and 50 with normal weight. They will use advanced DNA sequencing and quantitative PCR to identify which bacteria are present and how abundant E. coli is in the mucosal lining. The goal is to see if obesity is linked to specific obesogenic E. coli strains and how these microbes might drive weight gain or hinder dieting, with findings guiding future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could lead to targeted microbiome strategies to support weight loss and obesity treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests specific gut microbes are linked to obesity, but this study will test mucosal E. coli in humans with robust sampling.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacobs, Jonathan Patrick — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Jacobs, Jonathan Patrick
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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.