Dr. Helen Vuong will present, “Towards understanding the role of the microbiome in central nervous system development and function” via Zoom as part of the Food for Health Seminar Series. This virtual visit is being organized by the NFHC Graduate Student Council.

Bio: Dr. Vuong is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Elaine Y. Hsiao’s lab at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In her postdoctoral research, Vuong aims to elucidate the role of the maternal microbiome in fetal brain development, including modulation of neuronal connectivity, activity and function, and behavior. She is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award fellow, where she conducts research while pursuing her passion in education and outreach. In addition, Vuong was recently awarded the NIH-National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pathway to Independence Award that will facilitate her transition into an independent research position.

Talk Abstract: Alterations of the gut microbiome, in response to environmental challenges such as infection, altered diet, and stress, have been increasingly associated with changes in brain function and behavior. Here we investigate how depletion and selective reconstitution of the maternal gut microbiome influence fetal neurodevelopment, axonogenesis, and sensory behavior in mice. Metabolomic profiling reveals that the maternal microbiota regulates levels of numerous small molecules in the maternal serum and embryonic brains. Moreover, maternal supplementation with select metabolites abrogates deficiencies in fetal neurodevelopmental processes and prevents abnormalities in sensory behavior in offspring from microbiome-depleted dams.

Join Zoom meeting at: https://unl.zoom.us/j/92732064797?pwd=RVJQVElTZ0VsdHE2NnVVREpUR0Nldz09

Meeting ID: 927 3206 4797
Passcode: 759697