Understanding intestinal microbiota and disease
Intestinal microbiota and its interactions with the host play key roles in maintaining a relatively constant internal environment in the intestines and in the entire body?homeostasis. An imbalance can lead to various health problems, including heart failure and diabetes. In addition, metabolites produced through the actions of microbial enzymes can also affect health.
As Canada Research Chair in Host-Microbe Interactions and Chronic Disease, Dr. Simon Hirota’s research seeks to understand if and how chronic inflammatory diseases?such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease?are, in part, driven by alterations in the composition and/or metabolic output of the intestinal microbiota and if those parasites could help manage disease.