Home Department: Undeclared
Mentor: Jonas Cremer (Biology)

"Protein to Carbohydrate Imbalance Drives Microbial Derived Toxin Production in Human Gut"

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 2.4 million Americans, while colorectal cancer (CRC) causes 53,000 deaths annually. Current dietary trends prioritizing high protein while neglecting fiber shift gut nutrient balance. Without complex carbohydrates, bacteria metabolize protein into toxic compounds like hydrogen sulfide and phenolics that damage intestinal cells and may contribute to IBD and CRC. The Cremer lab’s project will systematically investigate how carbohydrate-to-protein ratios affect toxin production across diverse gut bacterial strains. They will develop an integrative model of bacterial protein utilization that establishes a predictive framework for toxin fluxes in the gut and informs strategies to mitigate disease risk.