Ms. P. (Petia) Kovatcheva-Datchary: Who is doing what within the gut microbiota - answers from Stable Isotope Probing

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28 Jun 2010 11:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. W.M. de Vos (Microbiology)
Co Promotor: Dr. K. Venema (TNO), Dr. H. Smidt

 Insight into microbial functionality in the human gastrointestinal tract is needed to better understand the role of microbes in health and disease. Furthermore, it would allow for more direct strategies to treat or timely prevent intestinal diseases. The consumption of prebiotic carbohydrates is one strategy to promote beneficial intestinal fermentations, however, little is known about which bacteria are active in colonic fermentation of particular substrates. Since nucleic-acid based stable isotope probing (SIP) proved effective to unravel functionality in other complex microbial communities we tested the applicability of RNA-SIP in vitro under conditions approaching the human large intestine, but also directly in the human large intestine, with the aim to identify bacteria that ferment dietary carbohydrates, including potato starch, inulin and lactose.

RNA-SIP with fully 13C-labeled substrates and integrated application with phylogenetic microarray analysis and metabolite profiling resulted in identification of bacteria responsible for specific metabolic activities. Furthermore, metabolic networks were proposed, involving secondary fermentation processes.
Title thesis: "Analyzing the Functionality of the Human Intestinal Microbiota by Stable Isotope Probing"

More information: www.tifn.nl  (Bioingredients and Functionality – project titled Microbe-mediated gut metabolism)
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