Gut Microbiome Research

Microbiome is a growing and currently intensely explored area of research as it relates to numerous human diseases. The gut microbiome is of particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease as its etiology is attributed in part to dysregulation of the relationship between gut microbiota, host genetics, and immune system. The dysbiosis from imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory bacteria, and reduction in bacterial diveristy contributing to bowel health have led to emergence of treatment strategies involving pre- and probiotics, fecal transplants, etc. in efforts to restore gut normobiosis. Since epithelial barrier function is compromised in IBD, recent efforts have focused on furthering knowledge about tight junction protein function and

expression as a therapeutic opportunity. In addition, a historic research interest in modulating tight junctions to enhance oral delivery and bioavailability of drugs exists. Absorption or permeability enhancers developed in the last 40 yrs for modifying intercellular junctions and modulating paracellular permeability have unspecified mode of action and narrow TI. Recently advances in barrier research has led to the discovery of increasing number of integral membrane, adaptor, regulator and signaling protein in tight and adherens junctions, regulatory signaling pathways that may provide new unexplored targets for tight junction modulation in disease. Peptides derived from zonula occludens toxin (C. perfringens enterotoxin), integral membrane tight junction binding peptides selected by phage display, and lipid modulators have been discovered.