Project description:In a cohort consisting of 32 mother-infant dyads, we profiled the fecal metabolome at birth and at 3 and 6 months of infant age. Metagenomes from the same samples were also generated.
Project description:Previously developed gene expression signatures had high predictive accuracy at distinguishing viral and bacterial infection in a South Asian cohort with ARI caused by typical and atypical pathogens.
Project description:Metagenomic and targeted meta-proteomics were used to investigate the mycobiome profile of the infant gut to identify proteins involved during atopic dermatitis manifestation in a Thai population-based birth cohort.
Project description:The molecular mechanisms by which dietary fruits and vegetables confer cardiometabolic benefits remain poorly understood. Historically, these beneficial properties have been attributed to the antioxidant activity of flavonoids. Here, we reveal that the host metabolic benefits associated with flavonoid consumption actually hinge on gut microbial metabolism. However, flavonoids are consumed in a largely glycosylated form, rendering them poorly available for small intestinal absorption and subjecting them to microbial metabolism in the colon. We show that a single gut microbial flavonoid catabolite is sufficient to reduce diet-induced cardiometabolic disease burden in mice. Dietary supplementation with elderberry extract attenuated obesity and continuous delivery of the catabolite 4-hydroxphenylacetic acid was sufficient to reverse hepatic steatosis. Analysis of human gut metagenomes revealed that under one percent contains a flavonol catabolic pathway, underscoring the rarity of this process. Our study will impact the design of dietary and probiotic interventions to complement traditional cardiometabolic treatment strategies.
