Human colon mucosal biofilms are carcinogenic in murine models

Organization of the microbiota was recently implicated in human CRC, with biofilm presence corresponding to a fivefold higher risk of CRC (Dejea et al. PNAS 2014). This project investigates the functional role of biofilm-associated bacteria from human CRC or healthy patients on CRC development through gnotobiotic and metagenomic approaches. Our project identifies a group of bacteria derived from biofilm-positive tissues that was associated with tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ and ApcMin/+;Il10-/- mice.