Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is a key factor in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), particularly ulcerative colitis (UC). Although therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have shown promise, more controlled and standardized approaches to restore gut health are needed. This project focuses on designing and validating synthetic bacterial communities (SynComs) as an alternative to FMT for restoring the microbiomes of UC patients.

Approach

The aim is to develop SynComs that can be assembled from UC patient-derived bacterial strains and that can predictably function within the human gut microbiome. By using computational approaches and experimental bioreactor models, we will investigate how SynComs interact with each other and the recipient microbiomes, particularly under the oxidative stress conditions typical of UC. Our long-term vision is to create a robust pipeline for microbiome-based interventions.

Analysis & Validation

The primary objective of this project is to design and validate various gut bacterial SynComs that can restore dysbiotic microbiomes in UC patients. We will explore how these SynComs assemble, function, and adapt in the presence of inflammation-related stressors. Our long-term vision is to create a robust pipeline for microbiome-based interventions.