My research aims to understand how the gut microbiota interacts with host health. In my Master's project, I investigated the microbial origins of the metabolite 2-piperidone—a biomarker linked to several human disorders—by identifying both the gut bacterial strains and the enzymatic genes responsible for its production.
To achieve this, we cultured 51 human gut bacterial isolates with potential metabolic precursors and analyzed their supernatants using targeted LC-MS/MS. This led to the discovery of four previously unknown 2-piperidone–producing strains and allowed us to construct an in vitro cross-feeding model involving multiple bacteria. Further genomic library screening and bioinformatic analysis revealed that the avaC gene is essential for 2-piperidone biosynthesis in these strains.
Looking forward, I plan to explore synergistic interactions between gut microbes and natural products to improve therapeutic outcomes, with the goal of developing novel treatments for metabolic diseases.
Ref:
Zhou Q, Feng L*. Identification of avaC from Human Gut Microbial Isolates that Converts 5AVA to 2-Piperidone[J]. Journal of Microbiology, 2024: 1-13.