Stephen P.J. Brooks
Adjunct Research Professor, Research Scientist, Nutrition Research Division
| Degrees: | B.Sc., MSc. (Brock), PhD. (Michigan State) |
| Phone: | 613-957-0932 |
| Email: | Steve.Brooks@hc-sc.gc.ca |
| Office: | Nutrition Research Division Bureau of Nutritional Sciences Food Directorate Health Products and Food Branch Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre Ottawa, ON K1A 0L2 |
| Website: | Visit my lab website |
Research Interests
Our research focuses on the effects of diet on the structure of the bacterial communities in the gastrointestinal tract and their relationship to physiological outcomes. We use high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region as well as metagenomics analysis to follow changes in bacteria composition. We follow immunological changes by flow cytometry and monitor gut permeability using GC and HPLC. We monitor gene expression changes in colonocytes using Next-Gen Sequencing. We primarily use animal models to study the interaction of dietary factors and altered physiological states (diabetes, high fat diet-induced obesity, and colon cancer) on bacterial populations. Bioinformatics is an important part of the analysis chain. We are trying to understand the importance of host-bacterial interactions in maintenance of health to sort out hype from reality.
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