We are interested in the co-evolution of humans with their microbiomes
Our basic science investigates the evolutionary history of gut microbes, how they have adapted to life inside humans, and how they affect human biology and health.
Selected Publications
Clasen SJ, Bell MEW, Borbón A, Lee DH, Henseler ZM, de la Cuesta-Zuluaga J, Parys K, Zou J, Wang Y, Altmannova V, Youngblut ND, Weir JR, Gewirtz AT, Belkhadir Y, Ley RE. Silent recognition of flagellins from human gut commensal bacteria by Toll-like receptor 5. Science Immunology eabq7001. (2023)
Suzuki TA, Fitzstevens JL, Schmidt VT, Enav H, Huus KE, Mbong Ngwese M, Grießhammer A, Pfleiderer A, Adegbite BR, Zinsou JF, Esen M, Velavan TP, Adegnika AA, Song LH, Spector TD, Muehlbauer AL, Marchi N, Kang H, Maier L, Blekhman R, Ségurel L, Ko G, Youngblut ND, Kremsner P, Ley RE. Codiversification of gut microbiota with humans. Science: 16;377(6612):1328-1332.(2022)
Heaver, S. L., H H. Le, P. Tang, A. Baslé, C. Mirretta Barone, D. Long Vu, J. L. Waters, J. Marles-Wright, E. L. Johnson, D. J. Campopiano & R. E. Ley. Characterization of inositol lipid metabolism in gut-associated Bacteroidetes. Nature Microbiology: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01152-6 (2022)
Youngblut ND, Reischer GH, Dauser S, Maisch S, Walzer C, Stalder G, Farnleitner AH, Ley RE. Strong influence of vertebrate host phylogeny on gut archaeal diversity. Nature Microbiology. Oct 26. doi: 10.1038/s41564-021-00980-2. (2021)
Suzuki T and Ley RE. The role of the microbiota in human genetic adaptation. Science 370 eaaz6827 (2020).