MrOS vitamin D microbiome analysis

Vitamin D receptors are highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract where they regulate inflammation, immunity, epithelial function, and calcium/vitamin D absorption. As a result, Vitamin D plays an important role in a range of diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Recent literature demonstrates that crosstalk between host vitamin D signaling and the microbiome alter both the constituents and function of gut microbiota. In addition to diet and activity level, the microbiome represents a modifiable risk factor for metabolic and endocrine disorders including obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis. We want to study how bacterial subpopulations affect vitamin D signaling and disease progression.