Download Elizabeth Hiltbold Schwartz

Elizabeth Hiltbold Schwartz
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Sciences and Mathematics
• My Background
– B.S. Auburn- Microbiology
– Ph.D. Emory University School of Medicine- Immunology
• Longstanding research interests: Host-Pathogen Interaction,
Antigen presenting cell development and function
• Developing interdisciplinary research interests: Gut
microbiota, Inflammation, and Obesity
– My Collaborator: Dr. Terry Brandebourg, Department of Animal
Sciences, College of Agriculture
Why is the Mangalica Pig such an
excellent model of Human obesity?
• Naturally hyperphagic
• Develop the same sequelae of obesity as humans:
Metabolic Syndrome, Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease
• Similar Digestive System to humans
Microbiota and its impact on host
physiology
• The microbes within the human microbiome
outnumber human cells 10-fold
• Constituents of our Microbiomes can significantly
impact a number of diseases including
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Obesity
Immune function
Cancer
Mental health
• Humans and other organisms are now often
considered as a “holobiont”
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Amino Acids and Derivatives
Carbohydrates
Cell Division and Cell Cycle
Cell Wall and Capsule
Clustering-based subsystems
5Cofactors, Vitamins, Prosthetic Groups, Pigments
DNA Metabolism
Dormancy and Sporulation
&Fatty Acids, Lipids, and Isoprenoids
Iron acquisition and metabolism
Membrane Transport
#Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds Predominant Taxa:
Miscellaneous
Motility and Chemotaxis
Nitrogen Metabolism Proteobacteria 68%
Nucleosides and Nucleotides Firmicutes 13%
5Phages, Prophages, Transposable elements, Plasmids
Unclassified 7%
Phosphorus Metabolism
Photosynthesis
Potassium metabolism
Protein Metabolism
RNA Metabolism
Regulation and Cell signaling Firmicutes 54%
Respiration Bacteroidetes 28%
Secondary Metabolism
Proteobacteria 7%
Stress Response
Sulfur Metabolism
Virulence, Disease and Defense
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Our Preliminary Findings
• Whole genome sequencing of fecal microbiota
of 5 limit-fed and 5 obese mangalica pigs
LIMIT FED
lean
obese
OBESE
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What Makes Auburn a Great Place for
Microbiota Research?
• Highly relevant animal models of human physiology
available, and abundant expertise in animal health
• Highly collaborative environment for establishing
interdisciplinary research
• Substantial expertise available in metagenomic research
and analysis
• What new resources could benefit microbiota research at
Auburn?
– Germ-free/Gnotobiotic animal facility
– More expertise in bioinformatics, specifically with microbial
metagenomic data