Microbiota–Immune Crosstalk and Immunometabolism
My lab studies how gut microbes help shape the immune system, especially early in life when the body is first learning how to respond to its environment. We focus on how these microbes influence immune cells in barrier tissues (like the gut) as well as their precursors in the bone marrow, and how these interactions affect the risk of inflammation and immune-related diseases later on. A central idea in our work is that to understand how microbes control immune function, we need to understand cellular metabolism—the way cells use and generate energy. Immune cells don’t just change what they do; they also change how they fuel themselves. Microbes can influence these metabolic programs, which in turn shape how immune cells develop, respond to challenges, and maintain balance. By studying how microbial signals reprogram the metabolism of immune cells and their progenitors—especially during critical early-life periods—we aim to uncover how healthy, long-lasting immune function is established.