Understanding how gut bacteria manage iron during inflammation
Iron homeostasis in sustaining commensal resilience in the inflamed gut
This study looks at how good bacteria in your gut, especially one called Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, stay strong during times of intestinal inflammation and how they use iron, which is important for their health, to help find new ways to improve gut health for people with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11017607 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how the gut microbiota, particularly the bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, maintains its resilience during episodes of intestinal inflammation. It focuses on the mechanisms by which these beneficial bacteria capture and utilize iron, a crucial nutrient that is often sequestered by the host's immune system to combat pathogens. By exploring the interactions between gut bacteria and iron availability, the research aims to uncover strategies that could help restore a healthy gut microbiome in inflamed conditions. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis or other conditions associated with gut inflammation.
Not a fit: Patients with non-inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders or those without any gut-related issues may not receive benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for managing inflammatory bowel diseases by enhancing the resilience of beneficial gut bacteria.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding gut microbiota interactions with nutrients, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fansler, Ryan T — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Fansler, Ryan T
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.