The UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering's Immunoengineering theme applies PME's interdisciplinary lens to some of the most pressing health problems facing the world today.
Whether developing new vaccines with the potential to prevent cancers and multiple sclerosis, researching the causes of sepsis and food allergies, or applying AI and machine learning insights to the human body, here is a look at just a few recent ways PME immunoengineers innovate for human health.
How a microbe and a prebiotic work together against food allergies
New research from Cathryn Nagler’s lab at the PME and the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division (BSD) could have broad impact for people suffering from food allergies.
In a paper published in Cell Host and Microbe, Nagler’s lab reported a mutually beneficial relationship between an unassuming microbial species and the prebiotic lactulose – together, they encourage the production of an important metabolite known for its positive influence on gut health, butyrate, that’s generated as bacteria feed in the gut. The team found that treatment with a concoction of A. caccae and the prebiotic lactulose increased butyrate levels in the intestinal tracts of mice, stifling allergic responses to cow’s milk.
“The primary goal of gut microbiota is to digest dietary fiber, which humans don’t have the capacity to break down themselves,” Nagler said. “Instead, humans have co-evolved to rely on bacteria to do this job and to produce key metabolites through fermentation – like butyrate – that prevent inflammation and enhance overall gut health.”
To read more of the original article from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, click here.
