Probiotic lactic acid bacteria-derived secretome impact on intestinal epithelial and antigen-presenting cells: determining effects on immunometabolic and epigenetic reprogramming in the context of cell interactions

While intestinal bacteria are increasingly understood to be important for maintaining health, many questions remain about how probiotic bacteria act to influence the immune system. We have previously found that one of these bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, produces mediators able to influence communication between intestinal epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells, cell types important for our immune defences. The objectives of this research project are to determine whether additional probiotic bacteria also produce these types of mediators, and to examine how these mediators act on intestinal epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells using approaches that facilitate cell interactions and allow for production of mucin, a component of the mucous layer in the gut. By investigating the impact of these bacteria and their secreted mediators in this context, we can also determine the impact on antigen presenting cell metabolic activity, now recognized as an important way in which behavior of these cells is controlled. Determining the ways in which the products of these bacteria influence activities of and interactions between intestinal epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells will give in-depth information about the impact on our immune defences and in turn, insight into their impact on health, information of use

Faculty Supervisor:

Julia Green-Johnson

Student:

Michael Jeffrey

Partner:

Lallemand Health Solutions

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Ontario Institute of Technology