The care provided to children by their mothers is important for the development of a healthy stress response. Many things may affect the quality of a mother’s care, such stress, environment, and nutrition. Probiotics, a form of good bacteria found in the digestive system, have been shown to improve the wellbeing of offspring in rodents […]

In the intestines of people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), the balance of beneficial bacteria is shifted. Instead, the intestine is overloaded with potentially harmful bacteria – a phenomenon known as dysbiosis. This shift in bacterial populations is believed to be among the key contributors to the onset of inflammation observed in IBD patients. […]

Intestinal bacteria are now recognized as important for maintaining our health. Many questions remain about how these probiotic or health-promoting bacteria act to influence health, and how to use them to combat the numerous health problems associated with inflammation. The objectives of this research project are to determine how products made by one of these […]

Several classes of psychotropic compounds have been increasingly shown to possess antimicrobial properties with possible implication in microbiota-gut-brain axis. For instance, sertraline and paroxetine are efflux inhibitors in bacteria cell walls and are effective on gram-positive bacteria such as Enterococcus and Staphylococcus. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the antimicrobial effect of these chemicals on gut […]

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a bacterium that causes 65% of gastric ulcers and cancers worldwide. Current anti HP treatments often fail because the bacteria have become resistant and they have serious side effects. We are looking into using molecules produced by bacteria called Lactobacilli that are a natural component of the human gastro-intestinal flora to […]

The neonatal and pre-weaned periods are the most challenging in dairy production, resulting in the highest mortality and morbidity rates, with diarrhea proving the most common cause of calf health problems. In order to treat and control this diarrhea, producers often rely on antibiotic therapy. An alternative is to provide living microorganisms (probiotics) that minimize […]

A typical individual will encounter countless instances in their life where various stressors, such as the consumption of alcohol, ingestion of pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or experiencing stress itself, may damage ones intestines in a way they never knew was possible. All of these stressors have been associated with increased […]

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 […]

Research shows that the gut, the brain, and the collection of bacterial species that inhabit the gut (i.e., the microbiota) affect mental and physical health. Furthermore, stress seems to exasperate these disorders and this relationship may be explained by the unique connection between the gut, the brain, and the microbiota). In this experiment, we will […]

Probiotics are a form of good bacteria that have been shown to have health benefits in offspring that have been exposed to early life stress. One such form of early life stress that has a lasting impact on offspring stress resiliency is poor maternal care. Based on unpublished research from our laboratory, we have found […]

Mitochondria are critical producers of energy and are the platform for various metabolic reactions that support cellular health. Mitochondria suffer from a variety of damage as a consequence of housing these reactive pathways. In order for cells and organisms to survive this damage, dysfunctional mitochondria are removed from the cell in a process termed mitophagy. […]

Women are disproportionately affected by neuro-degenerative disorders compared to men. For years, research has attempted to identify why this phenomenon occurs. The answer may be found in the gut. The intestinal tract contains millions of bacteria that are colonized from birth; These bacteria are essential for keeping the brain and immune system healthy. Changes in […]