Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Our human gut microbiota use the complex carbohydrate component of dietary fiber to produce beneficial compounds that help maintain overall human health. A common goal of gut microbial research has been to determine what comprises a "healthy" gut microbiome, and our current understanding is that microbial function is a better indicator of health than taxonomic composition (genus, species, etc.). Because of this, a thorough understanding of functional distribution within core taxonomic groups is essential to understand the health of a given microbial community. Unfortunately, bias for American and European gut microbiota has skewed our understanding of metabolic function of major gut taxa. Taxonomic groups that predominate in indigenous, vegan/vegetarian, and minority communities are often underrepresented in functional studies. A notable example of this is Segatella copri, a prevalent and abundant Gram-negative species in underrepresented communities that consume high amounts of dietary fiber. This project seeks to improve our understanding of gut microbiota through the functional characterization of xyloglucan degradation by Segatella copri. Xyloglucan is a core component of the plant cell wall of fruits and vegetables, and is therefore a key component of a high-fiber diet. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of gut microbiota and will serve as a template for future research into dietary fiber utilization by related species.