Studying the impact of ageing and disease on the colonic metabolism of dietary phytochemicals using advanced models of colonic fermentation

Inflammation is a common denominator to several diseases including cancer. Eating a balanced diet is known to decrease the risk of developing the disease, however, there is no identified mechanism for this protective effect. Over the last decade, the impact of gut bacteria on health and disease has become apparent. However, because of the size and length of the gut, the study of the interactions between gut contents and gut tissues is virtually impossible in humans, without involving highly invasive techniques. This project will focus on the use of advanced in vitro models of the gut, combining optimal conditions for the growth of gut bacteria alongside human gut cells, in order to study the processing of plant phytochemicals by gut bacteria, and the impact of the resulting molecule on the health of the gut cells in the model.