Research Director

Sidonia Fagarasan

Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN Yokohama Campus
Team leader
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Outline

More than 1000 bacterial species (at densities that exceeds 12 power of 10 per 1 gram of intestinal content) make an additional internal organ called microbiota. The composition of microbiota is heavily influenced by the immune system. In its turn, the microbiota influences the function of major physiological systems-like digestive, neuroendocrine and higher brain functions likely through the metabolites they produce or regulate. We aim to understand how changes in metabolites caused by alterations of microbiota due to improper function of immune system leads to development of metabolic and brain disorders.