Assessment of Microorganisms and Host Response In Liver Diseases

The normal human gut is home to millions of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively forming the gut microbiota, which exists in harmony within us. Much research is still required to fully understand the contribution of microbes resident in the large intestine in liver diseases. The liver receives blood from the gut carrying all the necessary nutrients needed for our body but also has to deal with toxins derived from the microbes residing in the intestines. The gut microbiota is altered in liver disease. We still do not know clearly how this change impacts liver function and the health of liver patients. The purpose of our study is to answer this question by assessing the gut microbiota using modern microbiological and molecular methods. By studying the alterations in the gut microbiota in patients with liver disease we can understand how they affect our immune system and metabolism. This will help design novel medicinal products to prevent and treat liver disease.