Reshaping microbiota extracellular vesicles to combat inflammatory disease. (Old ID 27567)

Supervisor

Non-communicable inflammatory diseases such as type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease are rapidly increasing worldwide. Gastrointestinal helminths alleviate many inflammatory conditions but are not an ideal therapeutic. Studies suggest helminths alter the composition of our microbial communities and thus revert the gut to a healthier state. Bacteria respond to environmental changes and secrete molecules that influence our immune system. This project will investigate key changes in bacterial “secretome” (molecules and vesicles secreted by an organism) upon helminth infection, and the capacity of the helminth-shaped microbiota-secreted products to reduce inflammation. This novel concept could pave the way for entirely new bacterial-derived therapeutics for treating non-communicable inflammatory diseases.

01 Feb 2024 - 01 Feb 2025

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