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Neurogastroenterology
The bi-directional interaction between the brain and GIT, known as the brain-gut axis, plays a critical role in regulating many vital functions. In health, it controls digestive processes, modulates gut-associated immunity and co-ordinates the overall physical and emotional state of the organism with regard to activity in the GIT. In disease, altered brain-gut axis is involved in range of GI disorders, such as IBS and obesity. Core 6 is focused on understanding the basis of brain-GIT interactions, how they are altered by stress and how they contribute to disease processes in an effort to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Core 6 is also characterising the colonic microbiota in IBS and identifying microbial and immune biomarkers. We are establishing a robust animal model that will allow a better understanding of the pathophysiology of post-infectious IBS, and IBS in general, and aid the discovery of novel drug treatments. Probiotics have been shown to have beneficial therapeutic effects in IBS, but the mechanisms are unknown. Some evidence suggests that probiotics differentially release factors that activate G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), thereby regulating cells of the CNS and the GIT. Hence, we aim to discover GPCRs that are activated by probiotics and play a role in IBS.
Investigators:
| Biosciences Institute University College Cork Ireland email: apc@ucc.ie |
Moorepark Food Research Centre Teagasc, Fermoy, Co. Cork Ireland |
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