# Diurnal Oscillations in Gut Microbes and Host Immunity in Health and Obesity

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $94,302

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 I am applying for a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award from NIDDK to facilitate my transition
to an independent investigator studying host-microbe interactions and metabolic diseases. I am an
experimental biologist with extensive training examining host-microbe interactions in health and disease. My
recent publication under the mentorship of Dr. Eugene B. Chang identified that gut microbes exhibit diurnal
patterns that are tightly aligned with host circadian rhythm. Diet-induced microbial dysbiosis disrupts this
interaction, leading to development of obesity. My proposal will focus on filling gaps in knowledge to define the
underlying mechanisms that drive daily microbial oscillations. I will examine the interplay between innate
immune functions and diurnal patterns of intestinal microbes located within the distal small intestine. My long-
term goal is to gain insights into the bi-directional relationship between host and microbe that leads to the
resetting of the localized intestinal clock.
 I have designed the career development benchmarks of this K01 award to expand my knowledge base and
gain expertise in the areas of molecular circadian biology, microbiology, and innate immune function. I have
gathered a mentorship team to oversee my proposed work, which will be lead by Dr. Eugene B. Chang. I will
be co-mentored by Drs. Brian J. Prendergast (UChicago), Eve Van Cauter (UChicago), and Mitchell L. Sogin
(Marine Biological Laboratory). The mentorship team has participated in designing the career training program
and approved the proposed research timeline, coursework, skill development workshops, and manuscript/grant
submission timeline. They will be involved throughout the award to provide guidance and oversight for
research design and methods, troubleshooting, scientific direction and evaluation, as well as preparation of
manuscripts, grants, and presentations. I will receive additional support via my department and division chairs
as well as a group of consultants, including Drs. Jennifer Evans (Marquette University – molecular circadian
biology), Aaron Dinner (University of Chicago – statistical approaches for circadian time series analysis), A.
Murat Eren (University of Chicago – Microbial community analysis), and Dean P. Jones (Emory University –
metabolomics). The research environment at the University of Chicago is ideal to accomplish my proposed
research aims and provides all necessary tools to successfully complete my goals.
 I will examine the underlying mechanisms that drive daily oscillations in gut microbes, specifically the
interplay between innate immune functions and distal small intestinal microbes. I observed that oscillations of
gut microbes are synchronized with host diurnal expression patterns of genes involved in antimicrobial peptide
synthesis, specifically regenerating islet-derived 3 gamma (Reg3γ). How diurnal patterns in Reg3γ expression
aid in maintenance of normal gut microbial oscillations...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10445167
- **Project number:** 3K01DK111785-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Vanessa Anne Leone
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $94,302
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-02-16 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10445167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10445167, Diurnal Oscillations in Gut Microbes and Host Immunity in Health and Obesity (3K01DK111785-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10445167. Licensed CC0.

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