Characterizing the Inhibitory Effects of Specific Lactobacillaceae spp. on Highly Prevalent Bacterial Families in the Gut

The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that have varied influences on host physiology. By screening for microbe-microbe interactions, our lab found that some, but not all strains of Lactobacillaceae have a powerful inhibitory effect on bacteria from the S24-7 and Lachnospiraceae families – prevalent members of the gut microbiota. Despite a long history of being grouped together, many species within the family Lactobacillaceae are very genetically and functionally distinct from one another. My research has focused on determining how certain Lactobacillaceae species inhibit the growth of key gut bacteria, while others do not. This work is additionally important due to the fact that various lactobacilli are used as probiotics. I have demonstrated that the inhibitory effect is associated with acid production. This data characterizes antagonistic relationships between important members of the gut microbiota and emphasizes how the overall gut community may be influenced by these interactions.M.Sc