Gut Microbiome-Arsenic-Diabetes Interactions
The gut microbiome has a profound effect on human health through its key role in metabolic regulation, and is therefore a promising target for intervention and therapeutic treatment in human health. Evidence supports the role of the gut microbiome and the Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in the prevention of diabetes in both animals and humans. Building on this knowledge, researchers in Project 3 seek to determine how the inorganic arsenic-altered gut microbiome affects type 2 diabetes risk.
![Pictured is an EMT conducting an insulin test.](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2020/06/insulin-test-400x267.jpg)
Evidence supports the role of the gut microbiome and the Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in the prevention of diabetes in both animals and humans.
Using innovative techniques, researchers in Project 3 will characterize largely unknown contributions of gut microbiome-bile acid-FXR in inorganic arsenic-induced diabetes. The highly modifiable nature of the gut microbiome and in-depth mechanistic understanding of the role of the microbiome in disease will allow for the development of new tangible approaches to reduce inorganic arsenic-induced diabetes by targeting the gut microbiome and related signaling molecules.
The significance of these studies lies in the potential of the microbiome-exposure interaction as a novel mechanism of inorganic arsenic-induced disease. Through this research, we aim to overcome a critical barrier and knowledge gap in identifying new interactive factors and molecular targets for disease treatment and prevention.
Project Leader
![Dr. Kun Lu](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2019/02/lu_kun_200sq-2.jpg)
Dr. Kun Lu
Kun Lu, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC-Chapel Hill
Co-Investigators
![Dr. Balfour Sartor](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2020/06/sartor-balfour-200x200.jpg)
Dr. Balfour Sartor
Balfour Sartor, MD
Midget Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Co-Director, UNC Multidisciplinary IBD Center
UNC-Chapel Hill
![Dr. Miroslav Styblo](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2016/02/styblo_miroslav_200x200.jpg)
Dr. Miroslav Styblo
Mirek Styblo, PhD
Professor, Department of Nutrition
Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC-Chapel Hill
![Fei Zou](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2020/06/Zou-Fei.jpg)
Dr. Fei Zou
Fei Zou, PhD
Professor, Department of Biostatistics
Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC-Chapel Hill
![Dr. Tim McDermott](https://sph.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2020/06/mcdermott-tim-200x200.jpg)
Dr. Tim McDermott
Timothy McDermott, PhD
Professor, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Montana State University