Quantitative real-time PCR system to study nutrient and gut microbiota regulation of gene expression

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Real-time PCR analysis is a gold standard technique for gene expression studies. It is used for the quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis of gene expression either as a stand alone technique or to confirm microarray findings. Assessing gene expression in several experimental conditions allows to investigate the mechanisms by which nutrients or environmental factors may impact on body health. We will use the proposed instrument to investigate gene expression changes in various mouse and rats tissues (but mainly in intestine and brain) following  various dietary treatments. Moreover, we will use it to assess how the gut resident microbiota impact on the intestinal epithelium gene expression during postnatal development, by using RNA prepared form laser capture microdissected cells. In particular, we will investigate gene expression of mucins in conventional (with a healthy gut microbiota) and germ-free (without a gut microbiota) mice to assess the impact of gut bacteria in the postnatal establishment of the intestinal mucus layer. Unraveling the mechanisms regulating nutrient and gut microbiota modulation of host gene expression may lead to a better understanding of the aetiology of several intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. As an example, 170,000 persons suffer from inflammatory bowel disease in Canada, a disease for which a final cure does not exist. Finally, this research has implications in aiding in the development of dietary guidelines to improve human health.