Grant: Canadian Microbiome Initiative - LOI

Among all nations, the incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), are the highest in Canada. Besides genetics, environmental factors like a faulty diet and sedentary lifestyle may trigger disease susceptibility in predisposed individuals. Although emerging evidence indicates the intestinal microbiome as a central player in IBD, very little is known about the evolution of an individual's microbiome and its relationship to IBD susceptibility. We hypothesize that our current dietary pattern and the decline of physical activity adversely modulates the intestinal microbiome, affecting intestinal immune responses and increasing susceptibility to IBD. Using diet and exercise-based interventions in control and IBD-susceptible murine models as well as in patients, and in vitro techniques evaluating stress signaling and immune responses, we will examine i) effect of diet and exercise on the intestinal microbiome over the lifetime of mice (neonate to geriatric); and ii) the impact of dysbiosis on IBD susceptibility in various ages.