Grant: Project Grant - PA: Infection and Immunity (Early Career Research Support)

The link between the gut microbiome and human health is well established, and it has recently been identified as an important factor contributing to healthy aging. Certain bacteria are correlated with health and longevity. This includes a prominent member of the gut microbiome, called Akkermansia. Healthy, long-lived humans have higher levels of Akkermansia, and in mouse models, Akkermansia has been shown to increase lifespan. This raises the possibility that Akkermansia can be used as a probiotic to promote healthy aging. However, Akkermansia is not well characterized, and several new species of Akkermansia have been identified. Under some circumstances, however, it has the potential to be harmful. To contribute to the development of safe, Akkermansia based probiotics, we will investigate fundamental aspects of host-microbe interactions during aging. Using cutting-edge techniques in genetics and metabolism, we will investigate how Akkermansia impacts its host and the surrounding gut microbiome. By understanding the mechanisms that drive the beneficial effects of Akkermansia we will be one step closer to developing microbiome-based therapeutics to promote healthy aging.