July 10, 2019

Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD, in collaboration with Michael Wannemuehler, professor and chair, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, was awarded a seed grant award from University of Iowa-Iowa State University (UI-ISU) Partnership Seed Grant Program.

The grant, entitled Human gut derived phytoestrogen metabolizing gut bacteria as a novel immunotherapeutic agent for chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, will utilize special Germ-free mice to the test therapeutic ability of human gut bacteria to suppress inflammatory diseases with an emphasis on multiple sclerosis (MS). Mangalam has previously identified specific bacteria from human gut (microbiome) with immunomodulatory capabilities. As Germ-free mice do not have any bacteria, including in the gut, it will test whether a single bacteria isolated from human gut can influence disease outcome in animal models of MS. Wannemuehler has more than three decades of experience overseeing a Germ-free mouse facility (the only such facility in the state of Iowa). This proposal by Mangalam and Wannemuehler is a cross-institute study spanning immunology, microbiome, and microbial pathogenesis. Total funding for this award is $50,000 and the two year project started July, 2019.