Focused Research Theme – Gut Microbiota & Microbiome
Introduction
Gut microbiota and microbiome presents a new paradigm to approach various non-communicable diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer, allergies, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, depression, autism, and a growing list of others. The trillions of bacteria residing in our guts are carrying 100-200 times more than the number of genes encrypted in human chromosomes. The complex community of bacteria, referred as microbiota, and their gene collection, referred as microbiome, functions as another vital organ involved in immunity, inflammation, neuro-stimulation, neuro-transmission, food and drug metabolism.
Our research theme focuses on understanding the role of microbiota/microbiome in health and diseases, as well as exploring novel strategies in predicting, preventing and intervening diseases based on characterizing and modulating human microbiota communities.
| Theme Leader Prof. Paul KS Chan |
| Members from Department of Microbiology Prof. Zigui Chen Prof. Chris KC Lai Prof. Rita WY Ng Prof. Siaw S Boon Prof. Sishuo Wang Prof. Mamie Hui Prof. Margaret Ip Prof. Xiao Yang |
| Collaborators from Faculty of Medicine Prof. Francis KL Chan Prof. Simon Lam Dr. Agnes SY Leung Prof. TF Leung Prof. TY Leung Prof. Grace Lui Prof. Arthur DP Mak Prof. Siew C Ng Prof. LS Tam Prof. WH Tam Prof. YK Wing Prof. Martin CS Wong Prof. Sunny H Wong Prof. Jun Yu Dr. T Zuo |
Selected Projects and Achievements
CUHK Faecal Microbiota Biobank
In March 2016, we set up a Faecal Microbiota BioBank to provide quality-assured frozen stool preparations for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to support clinical services and investigational clinical trials.
CUHK Faecal Microbiota Biobank
Press conference on CUHK Faecal Microbiota Biobank and Transplant Centre, August 2018
SMART Baby: Stool Microbiome and Allergic ReacTion Study
In 2017, we set up the first prospective cohort study on newborn faecal microbiota development in Hong Kong.
Picture taken after a follow-up clinic for infants enrolled in the SMART Baby study (Prof. Paul Chan, first left; and Prof. TF Leung, first right; and research team members).
First-month home visit of SMART Baby study
Assess skin hydration in SMART Baby study
HKGutMicMap: Hong Kong healthy gut microbiota megadatabank
In 2018, we set up a study on gut microbiota of healthy persons in Hong Kong. The study is the first of its kind aiming at establishing a reference database of gut microbiomes of the Hong Kong population; identifying key determining factors of gut microbiome composition in the local Asian Chinese population; and to perform comparative analysis against other populations with different host genetics and life style.
HKGutMicMap team members at the Hong Kong Health Expo 2019 to introduce the healthy microbiota study to public
Recent Publications
- Yau YK, Su Q, Xu Z, Tang W, Ching JYL, Mak JWY, Cheung CP, Fung M, Ip M, Chan PKS, Wu JCY, Chan FKL, Ng SC. Randomised clinical trial: Faecal microbiota transplantation for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Oct;58(8):795-804.
- Yau YK, Lau LHS, Lui RNS, Wong SH, Guo CL, Mak JWY, Ching JYL, Ip M, Kamm MA, Rubin DT, Chan PKS, Chan FKL, Ng SC. Long-Term Safety Outcomes of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Real-World Data Over 8 Years From the Hong Kong FMT Registry. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Sep 19:S1542-3565(23)00712-7.
- Ng RW, Dharmaratne P, Wong S, Hawkey P, Chan P, Ip M. Revisiting the donor screening protocol of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): a systematic review. Gut. 2023 May 4:gutjnl-2023-329515.
- Cheung MK, Tong SLY, Wong MCS, Chan JYK, Ip M, Hui M, Lai CKC, Ng RWY, Ho WCS, Yeung ACM, Chan PKS, Chen Z. Extent of Oral-Gut Transmission of Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota in Healthy Chinese Adults. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Feb 14;11(1):e0281422.
- Ho J, Yeoh YK, Barua N, Chen Z, Lui G, Wong SH, Yang X, Chan MC, Chan PK, Hawkey PM, Ip M. Systematic review of human gut resistome studies revealed variable definitions and approaches. Gut Microbes. 2020 Nov 9;12(1):1700755
- Zuo T, Lu XJ, Zhang Y, Cheung CP, Lam S, Zhang F, Tang W, Ching JYL, Zhao R, Chan PKS, Sung JJY, Yu J, Chan FKL, Cao Q, Sheng JQ, Ng SC. Gut mucosal virome alterations in ulcerative colitis. Gut 2019; 68: 1169-1179.
- Yeoh YK, Chen Z, Hui M, Wong MCS, Ho WCS, Chin ML, Ng SC, Chan FKL, Chan PKS. Impact of inter- and intra-individual variation, sample storage and sampling fraction on human stool microbial community profiles. PeerJ 2019; 7: e6172.
- Chen Z, Hui PC, Hui M, Yeoh YK, Wong PY, Chan MCW, Wong MCS, Ng SC, Chan FKL, Chan PKS. Impact of preservation method and 16S rRNA hypervariable region on gut microbiota profiling. mSystems 2019; 4: e00271-18.
- Lui RN, Wong SH, Lau LHS, Chan TT, Cheung KCY, Li A, Chin ML, Tang W, Ching JYL, Lam KLY, Chan PKS, Wu JCY, Sung JJY, Chan FKL, Ng SC. Faecal microbiota transplantation for treatment of recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J 2019; 25: 178-182.
- Lai CY, Sung J, Cheng F, Tang W, Wong SH, Chan PKS, Kamm MA, Sung JJY, Kaplan G, Chan FKL, Ng SC. Systematic review with meta-analysis: review of donor features, procedures and outcomes in 168 clinical studies of faecal microbiota transplantation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019; 49: 354-363.
- Zuo T, Wong SH, Lam K, Lui R, Cheung K, Tang W, Ching JYL, Chan PKS, Chan MCW, Wu JCY, Chan FKL, Yu J, Sung JJY, Ng SC. Bacteriophage transfer during faecal microbiota transplantation in Clostridium difficile infection is associated with treatment outcome. Gut 2018; 67: 634-643.
- Chen Z, Yeoh YK, Hui M, Wong PY, Chan MCW, Ip M, Yu J, Burk RD, Chan FKL, Chan PKS. Diversity of macaque microbiota compared to the human counterparts. Sci Rep 2018; 8: 15573.
- Zuo T, Wong SH, Cheung CP, Lam K, Lui R, Cheung K, Zhang F, Tang W, Ching JYL, Wu JCY, Chan PKS, Sung JJY, Yu J, Chan FKL, Ng SC. Gut fungal dysbiosis correlates with reduced efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in Clostridium difficile infection. Nat Commun 2018; 9: 3663.
- Nakatsu G, Zhou H, Wu WKK, Wong SH, Coker OO, Dai Z, Li X, Szeto CH, Sugimura N, Lam TY, Yu AC, Wang X, Chen Z, Wong MC, Ng SC, Chan MTV, Chan PKS, Chan FKL, Sung JJ, Yu J. Alterations in enteric virome are associated with colorectal cancer and survival outcomes. Gastroenterology 2018; 155: 529-541.e5.