# The Influence Of Gut Microbiota Stability In Inflammatory Bowel Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2021 · $688,219

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), consisting of Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD),
are chronic progressive inflammatory conditions of the intestine. Numerous lines of evidence suggest
their origins lie in an overaggressive response of the host immune system towards the gut microbiota
in a genetically susceptible host. We hypothesize a key feature of IBD is the persistent colonization
by colitogenic microbial strains that over years to decades can drive the progressive inflammation and
damage associated with IBD. To test this hypothesis we propose three Aims. In Aim 1, we will
sample, every six months for four years, the fecal microbiota of individuals with Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (UC or CD) whose gut microbiota induces disease when colonized in the gnotobiotic T-cell
transfer mouse model of colitis. We will use metagenomics combined with high throughput microbial
isolation and genome sequencing to identify the stable and transient microbes in each
individual's microbiota and determine if individuals with IBD have significantly altered gut
microbiota stability. In Aim 2, we will use gnotobiotic T-cell transfer colitis mice colonized with subsets
of each microbiota to identify colitogenic and colitoprotective microbial strains and to determine if
colitogenic or colitoprotective organisms are preferentially found in the stably colonized
community members. Finally in Aim 3, we will determine if colitogenic and colitoprotective
strains drive unique baseline immune tones when colonized in unchallenged gnotobiotic
mice. Together these aims will help us determine if individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease are
enriched in stably colonized colitogenic organisms whose elimination might form a novel therapeutic
intervention for the treatment or prevention of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and if healthy individuals
are enriched in stably colonized colitoprotective organisms that might form the basis of a novel IBD
therapeutic.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10073507
- **Project number:** 5R01DK112978-03
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeremiah James Faith
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $688,219
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-04 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10073507

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10073507, The Influence Of Gut Microbiota Stability In Inflammatory Bowel Disease (5R01DK112978-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10073507. Licensed CC0.

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