Microbiome and Nutrition
The complex community of bacteria, yeasts and viruses living in our intestines, collectively known as the gut microbiome, is shaped, in part, by what we eat. Genetics, environment, and other factors also influence an individual’s microbial community. Research at the NRI investigates these complex relationships and their impact on disease risk. We use animal models and bioinformatics to study the associations between nutritional metabolites, gut microbiome, and health. What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut. Your microbiome can play a role in cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, and even cancer. Our team envisions a future where analysis of your microbiome can determine disease risk, and medical foods can be prescribed to treat and prevent disease by regulating the microbiome.
Publications
Microbiome and Nutrition Publications
2020
Population studies of TMAO and its precursors may help elucidate mechanisms. Meyer K
2019
Association of dietary patterns with the gut microbiota in older, community-dwelling men. Meyer K
2018
Meta-analysis of human genome-microbiome association studies: the MiBioGen consortium initiative. Meyer K
Human microbiota, blood group antigens, and disease. Sumner S
2017
Trimethylamine N-Oxide, the Microbiome, and Heart and Kidney Disease. Zeisel S
2016
Diet and Gut Microbial Function in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Meyer K
Antibiotic-mediated gut microbiome perturbation accelerates development of type 1 diabetes in mice. Sumner S
Related News
February 17, 2015
The Role of Genetics and Other Biological Factors in the Obesity Epidemic Karen Corbin, Ph.D., R.D., joined the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in 2009 and was promoted to research assistant professor in 2011. Dr. Corbin’s research focuses on nutritional and...
Genome-wide association replicates the association of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) polymorphisms with serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in Hispanic children
Genome-wide association replicates the association of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) polymorphisms with serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in Hispanic children.
Voruganti VS, Laston S, Haack K, Mehta NR, Smith CW, Cole SA, Butte NF, Comuzzie AG.
Cytokine. 2012 Dec;60(3):634-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.08.029. Epub 2012 Sep 25.
PMID: 23017229
Significant genotype by diet (G × D) interaction effects on cardiometabolic responses to a pedigree-wide, dietary challenge in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus)
Significant genotype by diet (G × D) interaction effects on cardiometabolic responses to a pedigree-wide, dietary challenge in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus).
Voruganti VS, Jorgensen MJ, Kaplan JR, Kavanagh K, Rudel LL, Temel R, Fairbanks LA, Comuzzie AG.
Am J Primatol. 2013 May;75(5):491-9. doi: 10.1002/ajp.22125. Epub 2013 Jan 11.
PMID: 23315630
QTL mapping of leukocyte telomere length in American Indians: the Strong Heart Family Study
QTL mapping of leukocyte telomere length in American Indians: the Strong Heart Family Study.
Zhu Y, Voruganti VS, Lin J, Matsuguchi T, Blackburn E, Best LG, Lee ET, MacCluer JW, Cole SA, Zhao J.
Aging (Albany NY). 2013 Sep;5(9):704-16.
PMID: 24036517
Genome-wide association analysis confirms and extends the association of SLC2A9 with serum uric acid levels to Mexican Americans
Genome-wide association analysis confirms and extends the association of SLC2A9 with serum uric acid levels to Mexican Americans.
Voruganti VS, Kent JW Jr, Debnath S, Cole SA, Haack K, Göring HH, Carless MA, Curran JE, Johnson MP, Almasy L, Dyer TD, Maccluer JW, Moses EK, Abboud HE, Mahaney MC, Blangero J, Comuzzie AG.
Front Genet. 2013 Dec 16;4:279. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00279. eCollection 2013.
PMID: 24379826 [PubMed]
Successful β cells islet regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic baboons using ultrasound-targeted microbubble gene therapy with cyclinD2/CDK4/GLP1
Successful β cells islet regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic baboons using ultrasound-targeted microbubble gene therapy with cyclinD2/CDK4/GLP1.
Chen S, Bastarrachea RA, Roberts BJ, Voruganti VS, Frost PA, Nava-Gonzalez EJ, Arriaga-Cazares HE, Chen J, Huang P, DeFronzo RA, Comuzzie AG, Grayburn PA.
Cell Cycle. 2014 Apr 1;13(7):1145-51. doi: 10.4161/cc.27997. Epub 2014 Feb 10.
PMID: 24553120