We evolved in a microbial world! As a result, resident microbial communities are dynamic and integral components of our health. Despite their microscopic size, the commensal organisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit our bodies have far-reaching effects. While many studies focus on the gut (where most resident microbes reside) we now appreciate that these teeming communities also impact systemic organs, including the nearby pancreas. Longitudinal sequencing of the microbiome from birth to adulthood has highlighted the dynamic development of resident communities within the gut, with postnatal populations being distinct and fleeting. Whether the short-term enrichment of distinguishing microbial taxa during infancy is uniquely important for postnatal developmental events and long-term health is an unexplored question. The Hill Lab uses germ-free (or sterile) model systems to study how the microbiota shapes postnatal development in the pancreas with the goal of discovering novel microbe-inspired therapeutics.
