Dietary, microbial, and host-derived mechanisms involved in modulating the integrity and function of the colonic microenvironment

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The long-term objective of my research platform is to further our understanding of the interplay between fiber-rich food components and their microbial-derived metabolites with the colonic microenvironment (microbiota and mucosa) and their effects on the integrity and function of the healthy colonic mucosal barrier and epithelial and immune cell homeostasis. The research program proposed herein is based on the logical progression of my previous work, and will focus on one fiber-rich food type, flaxseed (FS), to serve as a model food to enable effective in vivo colonic delivery of beneficial microbial-derived metabolites, specifically, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lignans, as well as potentially adverse microbial metabolites from FS protein, for mechanistic investigations. My short-term objectives are: 1) to determine in vivo the mechanisms through which FS and its components, modulate the structure and function of the healthy colonic mucosal barrier and epithelial and immune cell homeostasis. 2) to determine in vivo and in vitro a causal role of the gut microbiota and the extent to which microbial metabolites drive FS-mediated effects on the colonic microenvironment. This proposed program will provide the first comprehensive assessment of the impact of FS, and its bioactive components, on critical aspects of the structure and function of the colonic microenvironment, and provide mechanisms through which FS induces its effects. Providing fundamental knowledge of the diverse effects of fiber-rich plant foods will be important in guiding decisions regarding functional food development and fiber-related health claims by the Agri-Food sector and food policy agencies.