Funded by the Food Allergy Fund
The gut epithelium is a single layer of cells that has the daunting task of absorbing nutrients while keeping pathogens and other potentially harmful things that we have eaten out of our bodies. This cell layer in the intestine is therefore one of the primary barriers keeping intact food allergens from triggering the immune cells that cause anaphylaxis. Our lab’s overarching goal is to discover pathways that are dysregulated in the intestinal barrier in those with anaphylaxis to food allergens. Using biopsies from patients, a unique system to grow gut epithelium in a dish called enteroids and mouse models of anaphylaxis to food, we have discovered new molecules and genes that regulate allergen transport in the gut. We aim to use this knowledge to identify new drug candidates that block allergen transport and therefore anaphylaxis.
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