SymEnvLop

The mutualistic interaction that binds animals to their resident microbial communities (i.e. microbiota) profoundly shapes many aspects of their biology. One such important aspect is juvenile growth especially upon chronic undernutrition. Here we aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that forge the mutualistic interaction between the juvenile host and its gut microbiota, and delineate the genetic and regulatory networks of mutualism in juvenile growth both in microbes and hosts. To this end, gnotobiotic animal models (i.e with a defined and controlled microbiota) are powerful host models to study symbiosis and host physiology in an integrative manner. Using gnotobiotic drosophila and mice models, we previously demonstrated a causative link between microbiome activities and juvenile animal growth promotion. Using these models, we now aim to probe the molecular dialog engaged between the host and its microbiome, which underlies microbiota-mediated enhanced juvenile growth