Gut reactions: Natural products and the human microbiota

Humans are colonized by vast numbers of microorganisms whose metabolisms are inextricably intertwined with our own. Advances in DNA sequencing over the past twenty years have sparked a revolution in our understanding of the human microbiota and its functional capabilities, causing us to rethink our very notion of our chemical selves. The chemical reactions performed by our microbial companions can be distinct from those of the human host, and there is growing evidence that the products of microbial metabolism may influence both human health and disease. My research seeks to discover and understand enzymes, metabolic pathways, and metabolites from the human gut microbiota. We study reactions involved in transforming natural product-based drugs and dietary components, as well as the chemistry of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This talk will highlight work from my lab and others that demonstrates how a molecular understanding of gut microbial metabolism can help to reveal the abundance of important functions in these communities and guide strategies for manipulating these activities.