RESEARCH INTERESTS
![Mei LAB logo 1 cropped](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/mei-lab/wp-content/uploads/sites/128/2020/09/Mei-LAB-logo-1-cropped.png)
The long-term goal of our lab is to understand how reciprocal interactions between the host and gut microbiota impact host health. Specifically, we are interested to address three questions:
- How is a mutualistic relationship between the host and gut microbiota established in the neonatal stage?
- How do disrupted host-gut microbiota interactions contribute to disease pathogenesis such as colitis and colorectal cancer?
- How can prebiotics and/or probiotics-based treatment be used to modulate the intestinal microbiota to improve host health?
To achieve this goal, we use both mouse and zebrafish as research model systems.