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Microbiome Metabolic Engineering

The Microbiome Metabolic Engineering theme seeks to understand the positive effects of the microbiome on human health and how harmful environmental factors reduce those effects.

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The biocatalyst developed by Wei's laboratory enables the recovery of phosphate, a vital plant nutrient, from biorefinery wastewater. / Katie Brady
Electron micrographs of bacterial viruses, also known as phages. Photo credit is Hatoum-Aslan lab, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The University of Illinois and Mie University in Japan have collaborated on several studies of how the biome and its products affect human tissues and disease. Pictured, from left: Illinois researcher Mindy Baughma, Illinois postdoctoral researcher Janaina Cavalcante, Mie researcher Dr. Taro Yasuma, Mie professor Dr. Esteban C. Gabazza, Illinois students Jinyu Guo, Isaiah Lasisi, Sophia Nelson and Rebecca Hess and Illinois professor Isaac Cann. Photo courtesy of Isaac Cann
In a study of neonatal piglets, Illinois pathobiology professors Christopher Gaulke, left, Ying Fang and their colleagues linked influenza A viral infection to alterations of the nasal microbiome and potentially detrimental changes in brain gene expression. Vaccination of pregnant sows appeared to partially protect their offspring from these effects. Photo by Michelle Hassel
Clusters of nanoplastics (red arrows) bind to E. coli O157:H7.
Bioengineering professor Shannon Sirk