| The gut microbiota seems to play a crucial role in maintaining host physiology by integrating signals from environmental factors such as diet, xenobiotics, temperature, stress and host-intrinsic cues like ageing. Undesirable changes in the gut microbiota composition (dysbiosis), while responding to innate or environmental stressors have been implicated as a critical determinant in the development of various modern diseases. Our prime interest at the Kundu Lab is to understand the evolving gut microbiota-host relations during distinct milestones across the lifespan of a host with special focus on intestinal epithelium that serves as a platform mediating this crosstalk. In particular, we study the influence of symbiotic or dysbiotic microbial signatures on intestinal stem cells, which maintain the epithelial dynamics and functions of the gut. Our goal is to decipher the molecular mechanisms through which gut microbiota influences key intestinal stem cell signaling pathways and functions during homeostasis or dysbiosis across host age. We are using state-of-the-art systems biology tools such as metagenomics and metabolomics, coupled with hypothesis-driven research in gnotobiotic animal models and human cohorts to elucidate the mechanistic aspects of microbiota-host communications. Our ultimate objective is to develop novel innovative therapeutic interventions targeting the gut microbiota against ageing associated human diseases such as cancer. |
