Research Overview
The Weil Lab, led by Ana A. Weil, MD, MPH, is focused on understanding how the gut microbiota impacts enteric diseases. We primarily study Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. We use molecular tools and methods, immunoassays, anaerobic microbiology, genomics, imaging, cell culture, and small intestinal enteroid models to understand interactions between gut microbes, V. cholerae, and the host.
The two primary goals of this work are:
1) understanding how gut microbes impact V. cholerae pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of disease, and
2) identifying gut microbes that modify immune responses to oral cholera vaccines.
The Weil Lab works with several US-based collaborators and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
The two primary goals of this work are:
1) understanding how gut microbes impact V. cholerae pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of disease, and
2) identifying gut microbes that modify immune responses to oral cholera vaccines.
The Weil Lab works with several US-based collaborators and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
Duodenal enteroid 4 hours after infection with V. cholerae. Photo by Alaina Ritter (Weil Lab) and Kourtney Nickerson
Featured Project at mim_c!
- Our work in cholera and the microbiota are featured by the Microbial Interactions & Microbiome Center (mim_c) at the University of Washington.
- Read about our study of "Interactions between small intestinal microbes and Vibrio cholerae" at the mim_C website here.
Core Research Areas
- Host Microbe and Vibrio cholerae interactions
- Microbiome effects on immune responses to Oral Cholera Vaccine antigens
- Intra- and inter- host Vibrio cholerae genomics
- Gene expression of filamentous forms of Vibrio cholerae
- In vitro and in vivo models of effects of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis toxin (as part of the HHMI Emerging Pathogens Initiative)
Collaborative Projects
- Emerging Pathogens Initiative (EPI) - designing small peptides to target bacterial toxins with Drs. Joseph Mougous and Gaurav Bhardwaj
- Antimicrobial resistance and gut health of children (HIV-exposed/uninfected in low/middle-income countries) with Dr. Emily Begnel, Thrasher Research Fund Early Career Award
- Microbiome effects of Azithromycin used to prevent cholera in Bangaldesh with Drs. Fahima Chowdhury, Jason Harris, and Firdausi Qadri
