Understanding how gut bacteria affect tuberculosis susceptibility
Official title: The role of the gut microbiome in susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-10880556 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might affect how our bodies fight off tuberculosis (TB), and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how gut health can influence TB and related weight loss issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $226,569 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176295-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880556 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with varying susceptibility to tuberculosis, particularly those who are immunocompromised or experiencing significant weight loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for tuberculosis or do not have any gastrointestinal issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between the gut microbiome and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB), a serious infectious disease. By studying genetically identical mice with different gut microbiomes, researchers aim to understand how these microbial communities influence the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study will involve fecal microbiome transplants to observe changes in infection control and cachexia, a severe weight loss condition associated with TB. This research could provide insights into how gut health impacts TB outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing and treating tuberculosis by targeting gut microbiome health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that gut microbiome composition can influence immune responses to infections, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Ashley Robin — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Ashley Robin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how gut bacteria affect drug effectiveness in tuberculosis and diabetes patients
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect how well tuberculosis medications work, especially for people with and without type 2 diabetes, to help create better, personalized treatments for everyone.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Multi-agent AI to annotate enzymes in the human gut microbiome
A team at a major university will build an AI system that automatically curates and labels the functions of enzymes in the human gut microbiome to speed up understanding their health effects.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
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.