Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2022
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in the regulation and maintenance of physiological processes and homeostatic relationships in the body, with research thoroughly proving its effects beyond gastrointestinal functioning such as in immune response, psychological operation, and nutritional metabolism. Caffeine, nicotine, and theobromine—the principal bioactive compounds in regularly consumed products like coffee, cigarettes, and dark chocolate, respectively—may yield significant and variable influences on human health beyond their normal pharmacodynamics through affecting gut microbiota. Using metagenomic modeling, predictions can be determined regarding intestinal community activity as well. I hypothesize that caffeine, nicotine, and theobromine will alter microbial community composition in a time- and dose-dependent manner relative to negative and solvent controls.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Michael Burns, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology; Catherine Putonti, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Bioinformatics
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
The role of caffeine, nicotine and theobromine in the biodiversity and function of the human gut microbiome
The human gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in the regulation and maintenance of physiological processes and homeostatic relationships in the body, with research thoroughly proving its effects beyond gastrointestinal functioning such as in immune response, psychological operation, and nutritional metabolism. Caffeine, nicotine, and theobromine—the principal bioactive compounds in regularly consumed products like coffee, cigarettes, and dark chocolate, respectively—may yield significant and variable influences on human health beyond their normal pharmacodynamics through affecting gut microbiota. Using metagenomic modeling, predictions can be determined regarding intestinal community activity as well. I hypothesize that caffeine, nicotine, and theobromine will alter microbial community composition in a time- and dose-dependent manner relative to negative and solvent controls.