Our research interest is to understand the role played by the intestinal microbiota in health and disease, with a focus on inflammation and metabolic disorders.
Environmental factors-mediated modulation of the intestinal microbiota
We are highly interested in studying environmental factors that can alter the intestinal microbiota. We have previously reported that emulsifiers, highly used by the food industry, are able to detrimentally alter the intestinal microbiota, characterized by an increased ability to penetrate the normally protective mucus layer and an increase pro-inflammatory potential. We reported that the consumption of emulsifying agent is sufficient to induce intestinal inflammation that will manifest as chronic colitis in genetically susceptible host. Moreover, in unimpaired host, such food additives are inducing the development of metabolic syndrome characterized by diabetes and an increase in body weight, as well as by an increased susceptibility to colonic carcinogenesis.
We are currently mechanistically investigating i) how dietary emulsifiers are able to directly impact the intestinal microbiota, as well as ii) how an altered microbiota can subsequently drive deleterious phenotypes.
Innate immunity / microbiota relationship in health and disease
We have studied for many years how the host is controlling the intestinal microbiota in order to keep it under control and at a proper/safe distance from the intestinal mucosa. We have for example demonstrated that the flagellin receptor TLR5 is playing a central role in keeping the intestinal microbiota under control. Animals lacking the TLR5 receptor develop intestinal inflammation that can manifest with the development of chronic colitis or metabolic syndrome. In the liver, we have recently demonstrated that TLR5 is playing an important protective role during western-style diet consumption.
We are currently i) characterizing microbiota members driving intestinal inflammation, as well as ii) identifying therapeutic approaches to beneficially impact the intestinal microbiota.
