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Vincent B. Young-Research Summary
Our group is interested in the role bacteria play
in acute and chronic gastrointestinal (GI) illness.
To this end, we study the role of what would traditionally
be considered “pathogenic bacteria” in
gastrointestinal illness. In addition, we also examine
how the population structure of the indigenous GI
microbiota can influence the host-pathogen interaction
and how changes in the community structure of the
indigenous microbiota itself can lead to pathogenic
states. Specific areas of investigation include:
MURINE MODELS OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
The bacterium Helicobacter hepaticus have been implicated
as a trigger of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in
immune-altered mice. We have been investigating how
H. hepaticus can circumvent normal protective immune
responses and in turn how this leads to the development
of IBD in immune-altered mice.
GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
The bacterial community of the gut is part of a
complex ecosystem. A significant proportion of the
members of these bacteria have not been cultured to
date in the laboratory, preventing understanding of
the complete diversity of this ecosystem. The advent
of culture-independent methods to examine the ecology
of this community has provided insight into the role
it plays in various disease processes. We have investigated
the role the gut microbial community plays in the
development of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in humans.
We are also defining the changes in the GI microbiota
related to H. hepaticus-induced IBD and determining
if probiotic organisms exert their beneficial effect
via changes in the gut microbiota.
Recent Publications
Kuehl, C.J., Wood, H.D., Marsh, T.L., Schmidt, T.M.
and Young, V.B., (2005) Colonization of the cecal
mucosa by Helicobacter hepaticus impacts the diversity
of the indigenous microbiota. Infect. Immun. 73:6952-6961.
Pratt, J.S., Sachen, K.L., Wood, H.D., Eaton, K.A.
and Young, V.B., (2006) Modulation of host immune
responses by the cytolethal distending toxin of Helicobacter
hepaticus. Infect. Immun. 74:4496-4504.
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, Tonelli A, Khalife
WT, Schmidt TM, Young VB. Decreased diversity of the
fecal microbiome in recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated
diarrhea. J Infect Dis 197 (3): 435-438, 2008.
Tonelli AR, Khalife WT, Cao M, Young VB. Spherules,
hyphae, and air-crescent sign. Am J Med Sci 335 (6):
504-506, 2008.
Eaton KA, Friedman DI, Francis GJ, Tyler JS, Young
VB, Haeger J, Abu-Ali G, Whittam TS. Pathogenesis
of renal disease due to enterohemorrhagic Escherichia
coli in germ-free mice. Infect Immunity 76 (7): 3054-3063,
2008.
Walk, S.T., and Young, V.B. (2008) Emerging insights
into antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium
difficile infection through the lens of microbial
ecology. Review Interdisciplinary Perspectives on
Infect. Dis. vol. 2008, Article ID 125081, 7 pages.
Tran, M.P., Caldwell-McMillan, M., Khalife, W.T.,
and Young, V.B. (2008) Streptococcus intermedius causing
infective endocarditis and abscesses: a report of
three cases and review of the literature. BMC Infect.
Dis. 8:154.
Harris L, Senagore P, Young VB, McCabe LR. Inflammatory
bowel disease causes reversible suppression of osteoblast
and chondrocyte function in mice. Am J Physiol-Gastrointest
Liver Physiol eFIRST date: 20 MAR 2009.
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