My research focuses on gut microbiota, with a particular emphasis on colonization resistance against invading bacterial pathogens. The gut microbiota is a diverse community of microorganisms residing in our intestines that plays an essential role in maintaining health, particularly by acting as a barrier against harmful bacteria. This natural defense mechanism, known as colonization resistance, is a crucial process that prevents pathogens from establishing and causing infections.

At a time when antibiotic resistance is one of the most significant global health challenges, relying on traditional antibiotics is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Pathogens are rapidly evolving to resist commonly used treatments, leaving many antibiotics ineffective. As a result, the search for alternative therapeutic approaches is more urgent than ever. The consequences of antibiotic resistance are alarming, with longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality rates becoming common outcomes of infections that were considered once easily treatable.

It is important to explore how the gut microbiota can be harnessed as a defense system against such pathogens. By understanding the intricate mechanisms of colonization resistance, we can uncover how beneficial bacteria in the gut outcompete harmful invaders, blocking their ability to colonize and cause disease. This approach goes beyond treating infections, with the goal of preventing them from establishing in the first place by maintaining a healthy balance of gut microbes.

One area of my research involves identifying specific microbial species and metabolites produced by the microbiota that are effective at inhibiting pathogens. These insights could lead to the development of targeted probiotics or microbiome-based therapies designed to strengthen the body’s natural defenses without contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Another area of investigation is the use of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), where the gut microbes from a healthy donor are transferred to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to replenish their microbiota. This technique has already shown success in treating certain infections, such as Clostridioides difficile, through re-establishing colonization resistance, and could become a key tool in addressing other antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic strategies that reduce our reliance on antibiotics. By utilizing the gut microbiota, we can find more sustainable solutions for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, while mitigating the devastating consequences of antibiotic resistance.