Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is associated with significant alterations in gut microbiome composition and function. The gut microbiome exhibits remarkable diversity not only at the species level but also at the strain level. And this study will investigate strain-level dynamics in IBD patients compared to healthy controls using longitudinal metagenomic sequencing, with a focus on strain colonization patterns, ecological stability and genetic adaptation.

Approach

By performing high-resolution analysis of strain variants and mutation profiles, we will study how microbial behaviors diverge between diseased and healthy states.

Analysis & Validation

By integrating clinical metadata, we will be able to link strain dynamics to disease phenotypes, advancing our understanding of microbiome evolution in both health and disease.