The effect of dietary modulation on fungal and viral communities in the gastrointestinal tract
We plan to determine whether various dietary components, including food additives, dietary fibres, and polyphenolics, impact the composition and functional capacity of the mycobiome (fungi) in healthy individuals and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Diet has a profound impact on the gut microbiome (collection of microorganisms in the gut), however, the vast majority of research to date only focuses on the modulating capacity of diet in the context of the gut bacteria. Additional research is therefore needed to elucidate the impact diet has on shaping the fungal community within the gut. This is particularly important as recent research has established that the mycobiome is likely implicated in the development and management of immune-mediated conditions such as IBD.
Therapeutic efficacy and gut microbiome modulating capacity of a fibre-enriched exclusive enteral nutrition strategy in pediatric Crohn’s disease
In this translational research project we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine whether enriching exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) with fibre will prevent gut microbiome dysbiosis (imbalance) and enhance disease outcomes compared to a fibre-free EEN formula. Additionally, we will determine whether there is a gut microbiome signature, and/or specific dietary components associated with EEN response and/or sustained remission.
OPTIMIST (Optimizing IBD Patient Treatment with Integrated Microbiome Investigation for Specialized Therapeutic)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, with increasing incidence attributed to genetic, environmental, and dietary factors, and interactions between the immune system and gut microbiome. Dysbiosis, characterized by reduced bacterial diversity and increased pro-inflammatory bacterial taxa, is observed in IBD patients, with microbiome alterations differing by disease subtype and phase. This study aims to evaluate microbiome profiles, including the bacteriome and mycobiome in various sample types from adult patients with Crohn’s disease in British Columbia, Canada, to investigate microbial signatures predictive of response to advanced IBD therapies.
Caroline C Kim, Genelle R Lunken, William J Kelly, Mark L Patchett, Zoe Jordens, Gerald W Tannock, Ian M Sims, Tracey J Bell, Duncan Hedderley, Bernard Henrissat, Douglas I Rosendale
Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Tsai, K. and Ma, C. and Han, X. and Allaire, J. and Healey, G.R. and Crowley, S.M. and Yu, H. and Jacobson, K. and Xia, L. and Priatel, J.J. and Vallance, B.A.
