Project 467035

It is estimated that the population of bacteria that live in our gut, known as the gut microbiota, outnumber the cells of the human body 100 times. The diversity of microbial species and their capabilities is so immense that we have only scratched the surface into understanding the relationship between humans and their gut microbiota. Over the past few decades, we have uncovered that this relationship is linked to numerous aliments including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, cancer, and anxiety disorders. With our expanding knowledge of human-microbe interactions, the development of probiotic therapies for these aliments is an exciting and promising new venture. Probiotics are living microorganisms that when consumed can provide health benefits.Crohns disease (CD) is a form of IBD that is characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation of the digestive system. Over 135,000 Canadians live with CD. With our current therapeutics, it is estimated that 75% of CD patients still require surgery during their life. While the driving causes of CD are unknown, our understanding involves factors such as the gut microbiota, integrity of the gut barrier, and genetic predisposition. The largest genetic risk factor for CD reduces the activation of the NOD2 receptor when it encounters a microbial product. In healthy individuals, this activation helps to strengthen and repair the gut barrier. My research aims to develop new therapeutics for CD that restore the beneficial effects of NOD2 activation. I am using genetic engineering technology to design probiotics that will deliver beneficial microbial products to gut cells. My work will help to further the understanding of human-microbe interactions and work towards improving the quality of life of patients with CD.