Damon Runyon Researchers

The Western diet, characterized by low dietary fiber and high saturated fat content, is strongly correlated with incidence of CRC. This diet rapidly alters the composition and function of the gut microbiome, inducing microbial imbalance and inflammation, two major hallmarks of CRC. These changes are thought to be caused by diet-induced oxygenation of the gut environment. Most beneficial gut bacteria cannot survive this oxygenated environment, but harmful microbes can thrive in this setting and further exacerbate inflammatory responses. The response of bacteria to oxygen is varied and poorly understood. Dr. Reddy [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow] aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying oxygen tolerance in bacteria and find interventions to restore normal oxygen levels.  The findings from this project will delineate the contributions of exercise and diet to establishing the oxidative environment of the gut and illuminate the mechanism allowing certain microbes to withstand redox stress. Dr. Reddy received her PhD from Harvard University, Cambridge and her BS from University of Connecticut, Mansfield.