Research

The major research of our lab focuses on assessment of the genetic and environmental factors, particularly the microbiome contributing to complex disease pathogenesis.

Features of location-specific oral microbiome are associated with Chronic Kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is progressive loss in renal function that afflicts approximately 25 million adults in the United States alone, with the majority remaining undiagnosed. Our current study found distinctive microbiota features associated with CKD status were found in specific oral locations. A combination of some of those taxa features was reasonably predictable of the CKD status sugFigure1gesting a sampling from specific oral locations as a potential noninvasive test to identify individuals with or at risk of developing CKD.

Effect of postnatal low-dose exposure to environmental chemicals on the gut microbiome in a rodent model

This proof-of-principle study examines whether postnatal, low-dose exposure to environmental chemicals modifies the composition of gut microbiome. Three chemicals that are widely used in personal care products—diethyl phthalate (DEP), methyl paraben (MPB), triclosan (TCS) — and their mixture (MIX), were administered at doses comparable to human exposure to Sprague-Dawley rats from birth through adulthood. Fecal samples were collected at two time points: postnatal day (PND) 62 (adolescence) and PND 181 (adulthood). The gut microbiome was profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, taxonomically assigned and assessed for diversity.

The features of mucosa-associated microbiota in primary sclerosing cholangitis

A recent research with collaboration with SHARE explored the mucosa-associated microbiota in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients across different locations in the gut, and to compare it with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-only patients and healthy controls. We found that the overall microbiota profile was similar across multiple locations in the gut from the same individual regardless of disease status. In this study, the mucosa associated-microbiota of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis was characterised by enrichment of Blautia andBarnesiellaceae and by major shifts in operational taxa units within Clostridiales order.