The goal of the proposed research is to develop a laboratory model of Crohn’s disease (CD), “Crohn’s Disease-on-a-Chip”. We mimic the microstructure and physiological function of human intestine by integrating tools developed in a microchip computer technology, tissue engineering, and clinical microbiology. We have a platform technology to maintain viable human intestinal cells in a […]
Many genetic factors have been associated with increased IBD susceptibility. However, these only explain a fraction of the disease risk that an individual with such a predisposition experiences. Environmental factors have been proposed to work in combination with host genetics to cause IBD. Diet and the normally beneficial community of bacteria that live in the […]
The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria affecting our health. Even more abundant are viruses that specifically infect these bacteria. These viruses are called bacteriophages and have the ability to control the number and function of the bacteria that live within us. Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or […]
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects women during their reproductive years and 25% become pregnant after an initial diagnosis of IBD. New data suggest that babies are born not-sterile, and bacteria, also known as microbiome, are passed from the pregnant mother to the fetus in the womb. The make-up of these initial bacteria significantly contributes to […]
The intestinal microbiota is the collective term used to described the microbial community living in our intestine and playing important roles. However, the intestinal microbiota is also playing a central role in the development of many chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We previously reported, in mice, that the consumption of dietary emulsifiers, […]
The incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is increasing worldwide in lockstep with modernization and worldwide ‘Westernization’ of lifestyles. One of the most important aspects of Westernization for human health is the adoption of a diet high in fat and sugar and low in fiber. Relatively little is known about how dietary sugar specifically affects the […]
The gut is composed of many cell types that contribute to its complex functions and ability to adapt to changing conditions associated with diet, lifestyles and the environment. Each of these factors can affect the health of the gut and contribute to intestinal disease such as inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal discomfort and pain. Many […]
To gain insight into IBD mechanisms and to improve the development of new therapeutics, an understanding of how genetic factors modulate intestinal homeostasis is required. We propose to model human IBD pathogenesis using gene editing in human embryonic stem cell-derived organoids to generate lines carrying mutations associated with IBD susceptibility. First, we will establish human […]
