Abstract
While the connection between food intake, microbial profile and gut health is known, the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction are poorly understood. It appears likely that gut health, as well as brain health are intricately linked via neuronal pathways at the level of the gut, i.e. the enteric nervous system (ENS), as well as through central connections mediated by the vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system. The aim of this project is understand how bacterial metabolites and nutrients regulate neuronal pathways within the gut wall and then translate these findings into clinical studies where autonomic function and gut physiology will be studied in healthy subjects.
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