Project:
Identifying the role of mucus-associated bacteria and phages in modulation of autism spectrum disorder
Laboratories:
Jun R. Huh, Ph.D. and Gloria Choi, Ph.D.
Biographical Information:
Jen earned her undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 2017 and her Ph.D. in 2023 from Yonsei University, College of Medicine, South Korea. During her doctoral training with Dr. Sang Sun Yoon, Jen focused on interactions within the gut microbiome and their effects on gut health and enteric infections. As a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Jun R. Huh and Gloria B. Choi, Jen aims to deepen her understanding of how gut bacteria and bacteriophages modulate host phenotypes in the context of autism spectrum disorder.
Current Work:
This project aims to explore the role of specific viruses known as bacteriophages, which are found in the mucus of the gut, in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies have shown that individuals with ASD often experience gastrointestinal problems, which are linked to certain immune responses in the body. This research will investigate how bacteriophages in the gut mucus may help regulate the growth of bacteria and influence immune responses, potentially reducing the severity of ASD-like symptoms. By using mouse models, the study will examine how disruptions in the interactions between these viruses and bacteria can affect both the ASD-like phenotypes and gut immunity. The findings could lead to new therapeutic approaches for managing ASD-related symptoms through the gut microbiome.
Keywords:
Gut microbiome, bacteriophage, Autism spectrum disorder